Art History

Art History: A search for information.

Art historian: are concerned with gathering information about works of art and the artists who created them.

Art History

• The steps of art history have the same name as the steps of art criticism they are: description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment.

• The art historian is looking for different information in each of those steps

The Steps of Art History

• Description: When, where, and why was the artwork created?

• Analysis: What style of art does it represent?

• Interpretation: What artists, work of art, or other influences inspired the artist?

• Judgment: What impact did the artist or the artworks have on the history of art?

Art HistoryWe will look at this painting together and go through the steps of Art History.

Description

• Who created the work? Berthe Morisot

• Where was it done? France

• When was it done? 1888

• Title: La Lecture (Reading)

• Usually can find this information beside the painting. Sometimes you have to search for this information.

Analysis

• In this step art historians are looking for the following information:

• What are the main features, or characteristics of the work?

• Does it represent a particular style of art? If so, what is the style?

• What is style?

Analysis

• Style: personal way of using the art elements and principles to reproduce what they see and to express their ideas and feelings.

• What are the main features or characteristics of the work?

• Does it represent a particular STYLE of art?

Analyses

• Let us look at the Berthe Morisot painting at the beginning of this presentation.

• The work exhibits: fast thick brush strokes, detail in face, blurred background, and it shows the leisurely side of French life.

• These are all characteristics of Impressionism.

Video

• Watch this video to help you better understand Description and Analysis.

Main Features

• Fast, thick brush strokes

• Close attention to detail on face and expression

• Background barely distinguishable

• Only hints of foliage

• Close attention to light

• More works by Morisot.

Berthe Morisot, Lady at Her Toilette.

Look for these style characteristics in Morisot’s works.

The Cradle

Julie Manet with Dog

Impressionistic Style

Interpretation

• The art historian focuses their attention on the influence of time and place of the artist.

• Let’s look read more about Berthe Morisot.

Interpretation

• In this step the Art Historian is trying to answer the following questions.

• Which artists, or works of art inspired the artist?

• What other influences affected the artist?

• Does the work reveal something about the world in which it was painted?

Berthe Morisot

• Grandfather was a famous painter: Jean-Honoré Fragonard.

• Brought up in a cultured atmosphere

• She copied artworks in the Louvre museum in Paris.

• Joined the “Impressionists”

• Was female

Berthe Morisot

• Learned from Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot to recognize the effects of natural light and ambience.

Édouard Manet

• Met in 1868 at the age of 27

• Fascinated by his rapid brush strokes

Judgment• We can conclude once you have answered description,

analysis, and interpretation.• We have looked in the history books for her work.• She was encouraged by fellow artists that she was

talented.• Low social status and a woman = less attention in her

time• All of these things make her work significant in the

history of art.

Judgment

• Based on the works historical significance.

• Watch this video to better help you understand Interpretation and Judgment.

Art Criticism or Art History?

• First look at the aesthetics and use the art criticism operations

• Make a subjective and tentative decision about it’s success

• Then turn to the objective art history operations

• As you gain facts you can confirm, modify or change your decision.

Combination

• Can make a balanced informative judgment that is subjective and objective.

• This judgment is always subject to change as you learn and grow.

• Watch this video.

Practice

• Read pages 480-489, in Art in Focus and learn more about Impressionism and other artists who have worked in the style.

• Read about Mary Cassatt on page 486 in your book.

• Look her painting, “The Boating Party.”

Mary Cassatt, The Boating Party. 1893-94, Oil on Canvas.