Lecture 1 Introduction (5).pdf

ARTH 100 Art History: An Introduction Instructor: Dr. Krystel Chehab 1  ARTH 100: What is the Course about? From Prehistory – beginning in 30000 BCE (Before Common Era) To the Present – 21st century...

ARTH 100 Art History: An Introduction Instructor: Dr. Krystel Chehab 1  ARTH 100: What is the Course about? From Prehistory – beginning in 30000 BCE (Before Common Era) To the Present – 21st century (we typically stop in 19th century) 2  ARTH 100: What is the Course about? From Prehistory – beginning in 30000 BCE (Before Common Era) To the Present – 21st century (we typically stop in 19th century) 3  ARTH 100: NAME CARDS 4 Introducing ARTH 100: Learning the Language of Art Medium (plural is media): refers to the type of art object. Often, medium can be more specific and also include the material from which the artwork is made. 5 Introducing ARTH 100: Learning the Language of Art PAINTING is a two-dimensional representation made with pigment. A painting can be a(n): Wall painting Illumination (decoration of books with paintings) Painting on wood or painting on canvas Hanging scroll painting (painting on paper) 6  Introducing ARTH 100: Learning the Language of Art SCULPTURE is a three-dimensional representation. Sculpture is commonly made out of materials such as wood, stone, bronze, ivory or marble. Sculpture can be carved, modeled or cast. Sculpture is either free-standing (in the round) or in relief. Free- standing sculpture and sculpture in the round are surrounded by space. Relief sculpture projects from the background surface of the same piece of material. 7 Sculpture is either free-standing (surrounded by space) or in relief. Relief sculpture projects from the background surface of the same piece of material. 8 Introducing ARTH 100: Learning the Language of Art GRAPHIC ARTS include drawings and prints. Drawings are made with the artist’s hand. Prints are made with machines and are produced in multiple copies. Drawings and prints are commonly made on paper. 9 Introducing ARTH 100: Learning the Language of Art PHOTOGRAPHY is a medium that involves creating optical images on light-sensitive surfaces. Photographic images are typically made with a camera. 10 Introducing ARTH 100: Learning the Language of Art DECORATIVE OBJECTS can be made out of ceramics, metal, wood and other materials. 11 Introducing ARTH 100: Learning the Language of Art ARCHITECTURE creates enclosures for human activity or habitation. It is highly spatial, functional, and closely bound with developments in technology and materials. 12  Introducing ARTH 100: Learning the Language of Art EPHEMERAL ARTS include processions, ceremonies, or ritual dances, performance art, earthworks, cinema and video art, and some forms of digital art. With ephemeral arts, the artwork is viewable for a finite period of time and then disappears forever, or is in a constant state of change, or must be replayed to be experienced again. 13  ARTH 100: INTRODUCTIONS 14 Introducing ARTH 100: Understand Captions Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa or La Gioconda, 1503-1506. Painting in oil on wood. 77 x 53 cm. 15  Introducing ARTH 100: Understand Captions Material of the art object Title of the art object Year the art object was made Medium of the art object Artist of the art object Dimensions of the art object Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa or La Gioconda, 1503-1506. Painting in oil on wood. 77 x 53 cm. 16  Introducing ARTH 100: Understand Captions Artist of the art object Title of the art object Year the art object was made Medium of the art object Material of the art object Dimensions of the art object Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa or La Gioconda, 1503-1506. Painting in oil on wood. 77 x 53 cm. 17 Introducing ARTH 100: Course Documents 18 Introducing ARTH 100: Course Documents 19 Introducing ARTH 100: Communication 20 Introducing ARTH 100: Evaluation 21 Introducing ARTH 100: Evaluation 22 Introducing ARTH 100: Evaluation 23 Introducing ARTH 100: Class Notes REMEMBER you MUST take great notes in class to pass this course! 24 Introducing ARTH 100: Art and History What is ART HISTORY ? 25  Introducing ARTH 100: Art and History ART HISTORY is the study of an art object’s: form (physical and visual characteristics) content (what is being communicated) context (historical circumstances of its production/reception) 26  Introducing ARTH 100: Art and History ART HISTORY is the study of an art object’s: form (physical and visual characteristics) An art object’s form, or physical and visual characteristics, refers to how an art object looks. 27  Introducing ARTH 100: Art and History To understand an art object’s form, we examine its ‘formal’ elements (its physical and visual characteristics). Physical characteristics include: Medium Material Dimensions Visual characteristics include: Line Shape Form Color Texture Space Composition 28  Introducing ARTH 100: Art and History ART HISTORY is the study of an art object’s: form (physical and visual characteristics) content (what is being communicated) context (historical circumstances of its production/reception) 29  Introducing ARTH 100: Art and History ART HISTORY is the study of an art object’s content (what is being communicated) Content refers to what is communicated by the art object. It typically refers to the subject matter represented in the art object (a woman, a tree, a specific story). AND the theme represented in the artwork (love, power, death). 30  Introducing ARTH 100: Art and History ART HISTORY is the study of an art object’s: form (physical and visual characteristics) content (what is being communicated) context (historical circumstances of its production/reception) 31  Introducing ARTH 100: Art and History ART HISTORY is the study of an art object’s: context (historical circumstances of its production/reception) Context refers to the historical circumstances (time and place and much more!) in which an art object was made and viewed. 32  Introducing ARTH 100: Art and History How do we discover the context of an art object? To understand the context of an art object, we ask questions such as: Where was the art object made? When was the art object made? What do we know about the political, social, religious and intellectual cultures of the time and place in which the art object was made? What is known about the artist? What is known about the patron? Why did the patron commission the art object? Where was the art object originally displayed? Who were the original intended viewers? 33  Introducing ARTH 100: Art and History ART HISTORY is the study of an art object’s: form (physical and visual characteristics) content (what is being communicated) context (historical circumstances of its production/reception) By understanding an art object’s form, content and context, we can better understand the art object’s overall function. 34  Introducing ARTH 100: Compare and Contrast (Group Activity) Unknown Artist, Woman from Willendorf, c. Alice Neel, Self Portrait, 1980. Painting 24,000 BCE. Sculpture in limestone. Height 11 cm. in oil on canvas. 1.37 x 1 m. In your group, choose one person to be the notetaker for the group. Choose another person to be the spokesperson for the group. A group member cannot have more than one role. 35  Introducing ARTH 100: Compare and Contrast Unknown Artist, Woman from Willendorf, c. Alice Neel, Self Portrait, 1980. Painting 24,000 BCE. Sculpture in limestone. Height 11 cm. in oil on canvas. 1.37 x 1 m. 36 Next Class: Prehistoric Art 37