1122 samples of this type
People like to discuss art. It makes them feel like a 19th-century aristocracy enjoying themselves at a ball. But if you study art as your main subject at college or high school, such discussions become your assignments, making them less pleasurable. We have done our best to alleviate your academic tension: we made up this collection of art critique example essays. This introductory article contains an art essay definition, 35 essay topics, writing tips, and more.
This question requires some disambiguation. If you wonder how to write an essay entitled What Art Is, you need to focus on the different manifestations of creativity in music, literature, paintings, etc. On the other hand, if your concern is an art essay in general, here is a definition. An art essay discovers the similar and distinctive features of two artistic works, analyzes the symbolism of one piece (art critique), or explores its history. You will find detailed information on these three categories in the sections below. For more suggestive questions and ideas, please consult our art essay topics.
An art critique essay discovers the unique features that make the given artistic creation. Its purpose is to discuss or evaluate. Such papers often analyze visual arts (paintings, drawing, line engraving, or sculpture). The best writing strategy is to name its strong and weak points or analyze the focus and background. We have illustrated what you should write in our art critique example essays.
Still, they may also encompass other types, including literature, poetry, music, dance, cinematography, etc. In such an event, the assignment will specify the type of art: “music critique essay,” “literary critique essay,” or “movie critique essay.”
An art history essay requires you to analyze a work of art in the framework of the historic period when it was created. There exist two approaches to fulfill this assignment: formal and stylistic.
Using the formal method, you shall focus on the form of the work. The specific design elements may include line and texture, composition, contrast, color theme, or rhythm. Analyze how the time of creation made the artist select such or another form and how they convey the main idea of the artwork.
If you select the stylistic approach, you can make it a compare and contrast art essay (juxtaposing two artworks of the same or different historical periods). Alternatively, you can dig into the particular artist’s style and external sources.
This essay type compares two artworks to find similarities and differences or to evaluate them by the given criteria. It often takes two samples of the same or different artistic movements to establish their relationship. Do they build on or contradict each other?
The proper criteria of comparison are essential for a successful comparative review. Here are some of them:
We hope that our explanation of the specific nature of art will help you on your way to an A+ essay. In addition, the below selection of art essay examples for free will inspire you for an engaging writing session.
Death of a Salesman American Dream: Essay Introduction One of the main themes in the play Death of a Salesman is the American Dream. The philosophy of the American Dream originated in the early twentieth century when many immigrants came to America in search of economic opportunities and a better...
Introduction – What is Graffiti? Graffiti is a word used to describe any writing or images that have been painted, sketched, marked, scrawled or scratched in any form on any type of property. It can be a design, figure, inscription or even a mark or word that has been written...
The renaissance era, especially during the fifteenth and sixteenth century in Italy, was a time of extensive innovation and exploration. These changes were especially prevalent in art, and the vast leaps in the artists’ methods and skills have continuously influenced contemporary art. Renaissance art saw an increased implementation of realism...
Introduction Historical Background The Irish Drama was closely associated with the dramatic work of the English theatre. It was namely the theatre that made the Irish playwrights famous on the English stage. The explanation of historical background helps to better understand the rise of theatrical art. The roots of the...
Craft is a small-scale manual production based on the use of hand tools and personal skills of the employee, which allows producing high-quality, often highly artistic products. Craft has its classification, which includes paper, decorative, fashionable, functional, and other types. One of the most common types of craft is artistic...
Introduction The second half of the 20th century was a period that enriched visual arts substantially by introducing a wide range of new genres, from land art and body art to performance art. Among those who experimented with these new genres and media was Ana Mendieta – a Cuban-born American...
Introduction The censorship of art has been a hotly contested topic throughout history. Critics contend that censorship limits free speech, stifles different viewpoints, and prevents the expression of ideas. Supporters contend that censorship is necessary to safeguard society from potentially harmful content and maintain public morals. This argumentative research essay...
Introduction Graffiti is a type of modern art that is considered for different purposes by different people. Some people use this as a tool for expressing their feelings and expression related to the society and to the life; others prefer it as a way to express their disagreement or agreement...
Introduction What can I say about myself? I am Catherine; I am a usual young girl. However, not so usual and not so young, in fact. What do you know about me? That I am a daughter of an extremely endowed father, a genius, a mathematical God. He is the...
Introduction In the current essay, a painting “Salon de la rue des Moulins” by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec will be analyzed in-depth, considering the context in which it was created. A brief overview of the painting, the artistic movement, the artist’s style, different influences, and personal reflection on learning will be...
Introduction One of the most prominent paintings of Vincent van Gogh – The Starry Night – is currently exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The piece of art was created in 1889 and is still one of the most glorious paintings of van Gogh. The Starry...
Introduction Frida Kahlo is among the most well-known self-portrait artists. As it is clear from the most prominent of her works, she uses her own image to express moods and various stages of life in a masterly fashion. Self-portrait dedicated to Dr. Eloesser that appeared in 1940 is an important...
“For the Love of God” (Damien Hirst) is a controversial piece of art made of a human skull encrusted with diamonds. This “For the Love of God” skull is meant to remind us of our mortality and the uselessness of money in the face of death. If you want to...
The French painter of “Olympia,” Edouard Manet, created this amazing and controversial piece of art back in 1865. If you’re interested in the “Olympia” (Edouard Manet) analysis, read this sample essay. Why did Manet paint “Olympia”? You’ll learn the art history of this painting in this paper and understand the...
Claude Monet Woman with a Parasol Analysis: Introduction The art of the second part of the XIX century is rich with groundbreaking developments and attempts to rethink the very nature of art as a means of self-expression and world depiction. Impressionism was one of such important milestones in the history...
The art of the ancient world tells a great deal about these early civilizations’ culture, morals, and beliefs of these early civilizations. Art was a significant tool of communication and a critical way to record important occurrences when few people could read or write. Most prehistoric and ancient societies do...
Artist: Georges Seurat (French, Paris 1859–1891 Paris) Title: “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” Movement: Neo-impressionism Date: 1884 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 27 3/4 x 41 in. (70.5 x 104.1 cm) Introduction A way of better understanding pieces of art is by observing them and drawing conclusions on certain...
The Second World War brought devastation to the world and change the thought, affecting all spheres of life. Carefully optimistic philosophic movements could no longer provide people with answers they sought, and it gradually shifted to skepticism, sarcasm, and deconstruction of everything. New philosophical and art movements began appearing, varying...
Introduction Self-portrait by Raphael is a magnificent artwork that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the Renaissance. It reflects the spirit of innovation and experimentation that prevailed at the time. The portrait is also a notable example of portraiture, which sought to portray the subject’s likeness accurately. In this essay, the...
Introduction The practice of depicting human nakedness has been evolving for the last few centuries, with marked changes being witnessed. There was a general distaste for viewing images of naked people in the past, but the new wave of liberalization has changed this aspect. People are bolder and more comfortable...
The School of Athens is a masterpiece created by Raphael that is viewed as an outstanding achievement of the high renaissance and an impeccable artwork. This pierce of art shows a lively and exciting atmosphere due to the renaissance environment (Bishop 63). The painting could be considered fascinating because of...
Do you need to write the Last Supper analysis essay? In this sample essay about the Last Supper, you’ll find a reflection on the painting’s message, purpose, and why the Last Supper was important. The Last Supper Painting Essay: Introduction Leonardo was an Italian thinker who lived between April 15,...
Introduction Frida Kahlo painted The Broken Column in 1944. It is an oil painting on masonite, 13 inches wide, and 17 inches high, displayed in Museo Dolores Olmedo Patino in Mexico City. The picture is a self-portrait of a woman in considerable physical and mental pain, but in no way...
Introduction The Creation of Adam is a chef-d’oeuvre fresco painting by the famous Michelangelo, an Italian artist who was among the promoters of Renaissance arts in Europe in the 16th century. The painting was done between 1508 and 1512, and it depicts the story of creation where God made Adam...
The Mad Tea Party is an engraving by Salvador Dali created in 1969. It depicts a melting clock on a tree trunk, a key, and many butterflies (Dali, 1969). The work is based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, which served as inspiration for Dalí (Martin & Jacobs, 2018). The...
Introduction Last year, the Louvre was visited by many millions of people, firmly entrenching its status as the most visited art museum in the world. The Louvre’s collections include the finest works of art through the mid-nineteenth century and exhibits of ancient civilizations. Naturally, the new generation is not burning...
Introduction The art of self-portraiture allows artists to express their narratives, capturing their essence and identity. The Northern Renaissance’s Albrecht Dürer and the Dutch Golden Age’s Rembrandt van Rijn were two renowned artists who excelled in their respective eras. This article aims to analyze and differentiate Dürer’s “Self-Portrait at Age...
Introduction Art Spiegelman’s Maus makes a powerful impression on the reader, not only through the book’s theme but also through its representation. Written and published in the form of a comic book, Maus portrays tragic topics in a seemingly entertaining way. Doherty remarks that Spiegelman’s creation presented “an unsettling aesthetic...
Introduction Art is significant because it is expressive, informative, narrative, and persuasive. The concept of art is drawn from different life perceptions that promote acts of liberty. Artists, through various forms of art, can pass informative messages to society members. Art also plays the role of beauty and is celebrated...
The Renaissance is an epoch of the development of European countries. This era is the time of an unprecedented burgeoning of art, an era of geographical and scientific discoveries, and the development of banking, trade, and crafts. Among the main characteristics of Renaissance art are skillful brushwork, integrated compositions, perspective,...
If you are about to analyze The Thinker sculpture meaning check out our essay sample! Here, you’ll find the philosophy behind the sculpture and its significance. So, why is The Thinker important? Find the answer with our sample! Abstract The Thinker is one of the most outstanding works of art....
Ancient Greece represents one of the most investigated and at the same time enigmatic spheres of culture. No doubt, art, music, theatre, science, literature, painting, architecture, and democracy of the Greeks influences modern culture even many centuries after. Actually, the ancient Greeks introduced the humanities. The current government, architecture, literature,...
Eastern, specifically Chinese and Japanese, and western art cultures significantly differ, portraying the world differently through paintings. While Western artists depict the world from a central viewpoint and focus on the most important objects in a scene, Chinese artists in their paintings primarily focus on background detail. Such comparison will...
The baroque style appeals to the public through the use of theatrical, dramatic images and forms. Baroque artists are mostly known for their realistic, meticulous portrayals of biblical and mythical scenes. The style emerged in the 17th century when the Catholic church commissioned famous artists to create artworks, which would...
Introduction Liberty Leading the People by Eugene Delacroix can be considered one of the most iconic paintings in the history of art. Delacroix depicted the events of the 1830 French Revolution against the monarchy in a monumental work executed in Romantic style. French nation’s fight for civic freedoms inspired the...
Nighthawks is a 1942 oil painting by Edward Hopper featuring three people having drinks at a diner at a corner of the street at night. This work represents American realism of the XX century since in his art, Hopper painted contemporary American life. As his work is praised for the...
The concepts of law and morality have often been used interchangeably. They all reflect goodness and badness of certain deeds, and are seen as a means to justice – it being the desirable state of society. However, they are different in several key aspects, and what is moral and right...
The Shakespeare theatres served the best interest of the audiences of the 16th century. Modern-day theatres have various similarities that were adopted from the Shakespearean theatres and several differences. The Shakespeare Theatre was mainly in a platform format. They were designed to assume a circular shape. Many of today’s theatres...
Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World carries a strong emotional message. This piece of art offers a unique insight into the world of a person created by Wyeth. This painting put me in the state of perplexity and solitude inviting to muse on its ambiguous and puzzling content. I have chosen this...
Introduction The Greek and Roman interior styles are commonly referred to as classical architecture. The Roman architecture was profoundly influenced by classical Greek style according to Greek history. However, they advanced their architecture so that they looked different from those of Greek. In fact, they created new architectural style. This...
The Sphinx is a colossal structure, the mystery of which still is not completely revealed. Located near the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, this monument is considered as one of the most recognizable relics, whose origin, despite the number of researches, remains unclear (History.com Editors). Professor of Philosophy at Marist...
The work is a painting depicting a boy or young man, with his head pressed against an open book lying on a desk with a vise. Other books are stacked on the desk; no labels are visible, and text in the two open books is illegible. The proportions are realistic,...
The baroque period of the seventeenth century rejected and incorporated renaissance ideals in its art. Although Baroque art still aimed to create idealized, natural, and humanistic works, it was also designed in such a way as to intentionally evoke strong emotional responses from its viewers (Castro-Revilla, 2022). Some of the...
The chosen artwork is Persistence of Memory (24.1 x 33 cm) by Salvador Dali. It was written in 1931 and is located in the Museum of Modern Art in New York (Ling, 2017). The prominent elements in the composition are watches, mountains, the fluffy object located in the center, and...
One of the most prominent principles used in Woman with a Veil is balance. The composition of the painting is symmetrical, with the woman’s face being the focal point, and her figure and hands creating a vaguely triangular shape. This composition creates a sense of serenity. Another important principle that...
Name of the painting: Mona Lisa Name of the artist: Leonardo da Vinci Dates created: 1504-1506 Mona Lisa Analysis: Essay Introduction Mona Lisa is one of the most prominent and recognizable paintings in the world and is considered the greatest masterpiece of its author, Leonardo da Vinci. Created in 1503,...
It is often claimed that words are one of the most powerful ways to deliver information to the readers. After a long process of analyzing, a more effective way to affect the audience has been revealed. It is the use of images. Therefore, a visual argument essay takes the upper...
Pointing Man or L’Homme au doigt is a bronze sculpture created by Alberto Giacometti. The figure represents a man with unrealistic proportions pointing with his right hand. At first look, the sculpture looks almost intimidating as the distorted man calls to action with his gesture. Experts interpret it in different...
Women play a significant role in contemporary European theatre. However, the history of the women’s involvement into the world of theatre can be discussed as rather controversial while focusing on the role of women in British theatre in comparison with the women’s role in theatre history of France and Spain....
Stylistic Differences Between Italian and Northern Renaissance Artists Renaissance artists of Italy and Northern Renaissance artists had several stylistic differences. Italian Renaissance artists were heavily influenced by the classical art of Ancient Greece and Rome, emphasizing balance, harmony, and idealized beauty in their work (Ahl). They favored linear perspective, which...
Provenance I remember seeing a weird steel coffee pot on the windowsill in my ninety-year-old grandmother’s kitchen and asking her where it was from. Proudly, the grandmother replied that it was the Royal Holland Pewter Coffee Pot, but nothing ringed a bell for me. I asked about it more, and...
What I Find Inspiring Leonardo da Vinci is an iconic figure in the world of art and science, with certain admirers even referring to him as a “genius.” The thing that inspires me the most about the life and legacy of da Vinci is the pure vastness of his imagination....
Art from Roman Empire Title: Medici Venus; Date: Late 2nd century B. C. – Early 1st century B. C. Medium: Parian marble, lychnite variant; Current Location: Tribuna; Culture: Greek; Size: 153 cm (height). Art defines every political, social, cultural, and economic state of a society or a community at a...
Introduction Greek and Egyptian sculptures were made at different periods, yet there are some resemblances between them. Many of their creative choices in the depiction of human figures are surprisingly similar. Nevertheless, there are major distinguishing characteristics of the design of human figure sculptures that set Ancient Greece from Ancient...
Introduction It should be noted that images can be analyzed differently depending on the approach and method employed. Nevertheless, any visual interpretation should be accompanied by content analysis to ensure that not only the artistic expression is investigated by also the social and cultural value of the canvas. The purpose...
Introduction A canopic jar is a ritual vessel, usually a jug with a lid in the shape of a human or animal head. The ancient Egyptians stored organs extracted from the bodies of the dead during mummification. After extraction, the organs were washed and then immersed in vessels with balm...
It happened that two of the most prominent artist names in the history of the fine art of the 20th century belong to Spain, and these names are Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. Calling the names of these two artists side by side, people tend to oppose them, which is...
There are many famous forms of art, for example, literature, painting, music, and dancing. However, some people forget that architecture is also a form of art that is able to delight and amaze many humans, including both professionals and ordinary ones. There are many articles and essays about the complexity...
Introduction Food photography has developed throughout time via improvements in technology, techniques, and interest. Photos of food have been taken, shared, and appreciated for decades, from ambrosia salads in the 1970s to the current trend of upside-down acai bowls and elaborate latte art. The trend of food photography began as...
Summary Introduction This graphic depicts the Apple tagline and logo; the campaign employed reasoned rhetorical appeal to arouse viewers’ common sense, beliefs, and values by praising revolutionary leaders and explaining that creative thought causes good change. Apple is based on the pre-existing fundamental reality that a group of historically prominent...
Abstract Vincent Van Gogh made a significant influence on the art of the 20th century. This researcher has also been influenced by Vincent Van Gogh and wanted to learn more about him. A historical study began to explore Vincent Van Gogh’s depression and his artistic production throughout his close relationship...
The Renaissance replaced the Middle Ages and was characterized by many significant changes. A considerable number of changes occurred in religion, which in that period occupied an important place in the development of Europe. Under the influence of this and other factors, there were also changes in politics. The Renaissance...
Cartoons provide a platform for critique and, by employing humor, may frequently address topics that are challenging to bring up in formal discussions. The 18th century became known as the Golden Age of Cartoons, with cartoonists engaging in social and political polemics. The Plumb-pudding in danger, or, State Epicures taking...
Rita F. Pierson was an educator as a part of a tradition that spanned three different generations. Both her parents and her mother’s parents worked in the same profession, and she took inspiration from their work and took up the same career path. Mrs. Pierson spent forty years in the...
Da Vinci’s Interpretation In The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, the artist significantly utilized linear perspective to create a sense of depth and space. Its vanishing point lies at the center, while the focal point is Christ, surrounded by apostles. Implied lines spread from Christ’s head, and the table...
Art can be considered as one of the forms of public consciousness. At the heart of art, lays a creative reflection of reality. Art cognizes and evaluates the world, forms a spiritual shape of people, their feelings and thoughts, their outlook, and awakens their creative abilities. In its essence art...
Introduction Hockney used different forms of technologies to explore and hone his craft. He was adept at using different technological innovations from a pencil to photocopiers. He even experimented with fax machines and a device known as the Quantel Paintbox. Although Hockney utilized different forms of technologies as his mediums...
August Wilson dwells upon a very important issue in his play The Piano Lesson. He tries to find the best answer to the question concerning people’s past and heritage. Eventually, the playwright decides that people should understand, accept and cherish their past to have their future. The answer is manifested...
New York City has changed drastically over the course of the past 30 years. Its current residents would barely recognize the streets of the place where they live were they offered an opportunity to take a walk there in the 1980s. Abandoned industrial zones have been turned into industrial centers,...
Identifying Creator of Cultural Works Georgia O’Keeffe is one of the notable American painters who revolutionized art in the 20th Century. Born on November 15, 1887, O’Keeffe attended various Chicago and New York art schools before becoming a commercial instructor. As a fan of oriental art, she started her career...
Desdemona, the central character of Shakespeare’s play Othello, presents a combination of love, faith, and other bright features of the personality. Nevertheless, the power of the daughter of a Venetian Senator is hidden behind the scenes of her husband, Othello, and his comrades. Desdemona had gone through various hardships, such...
Heritage sites and museums represent unique institutions aimed to preserve and popularize popular culture and heritage of the nations. Heritage sites and museums represent a basic aspect of human consciousness, a basic dimension for experiencing and understanding nature. To some extent, they define the intimate relationships between individuals within a...
The Duel After the Masquerade (oil on canvas, twenty by twenty-eight inches) is a Jean-Léon Gérôme’s painting. It was produced in 1857 and today is located in the Musée Condé in Chantilly, France. Gérôme was a famous painter and sculptor, known for his works in the traditional style of academicism,...
Since the second half of the nineteenth century, the art of painting has evolved from photographic-like depictions of objects and people to complex representation of a more abstract nature. Explaining the new art forms, many painters set down their artistic concepts and principles in treatises and essays, among the most...
Introduction Frida Kahlo is often regarded as one of the most popular female artists and artists of Mexican descent in the world. More than sixty years after her death, Kahlo’s thought-provoking and honest works are still appreciated by those interested in self-expression by means of art. Given the stories behind...
Introduction The glass was widely used in Roman times for different purposes. It exerted a greater influence on the daily life of people during this era than any other period before the Renaissance. It was the preferred material in the making of various vessels, household items, and windows. Glass was...
Bacchus and Ariadne, the painting created around 1520, is an outstanding example of Titian’s art and talent. In this paper, the analysis of the work is presented along with the initial observations about the colors used in it and the depicted characters. The historical context of sixteenth-century art is offered...
Gustave Caillebotte’s Paris Street; Rainy Day (1877) is a prime example of the artist’s innovative approach to capturing the nuances of modern urban life. This formal analysis is focused on how Caillebotte used the elements and principles of art to bring to life a seemingly ordinary, rainy day in Paris....
Introduction Shinto is the native Japanese religion, very popular in modern Japan, which aims to worship specific gods and spirits, called kami, and follow the life philosophy connected with this religion. It is a pantheistic belief: while there is a sun goddess Amaterasu, a primary deity, there are many kami...
The present paper argues that the Dada art movement significantly influenced contemporary design and art, and its ideas of rejection of art and organized chaos remain demanded even nowadays. The Dada art movement, or Dadaism, originated in Switzerland at the very beginning of the 20th century. Even though it flourished...
Introduction Pop art is an artistic movement that began in the 1950s and reached its peak in the sixties. It started in London and New York as a wave of rebellion against the dominant forms of art and was characterized by its widespread usage of images of popular culture and...
Death of a Salesman is a 1949 chef-d’oeuvre stage play by Arthur Miller, which addresses various issues that were affecting American society at the time. Specifically, the theme of the American dream features prominently in this play. According to Mgamis, historian James Truslow Adams coined the idea of the American...
The work under consideration in the following paper named “Watch” (Fig. 1) is completed by Gerald Murphy in 1925. It is accomplished in oil on canvas with dimensions of 199.39 x 200.36 centimeters. Currently the picture can be found in Dallas Museum of Art. The main themes of the paper...
Introduction The play consists of three acts where the first act is an introduction to the event, the second act is an inclining of the affair by making it tenser, and the last act is a culmination of everything with finding the solution and answers. The play is focused on...
Introduction Photography is the world that is absolutely different form painting, sculpture and architecture. It may seem that photography combines the features of all above mentioned trends in art and integrates them all while creating the pictures of different object. There are many of artists who shifted from different types...
If you are looking for an example essay on Pablo Picasso, you are at the right place! Here, you’ll learn more the characteristics of Picasso’s paintings, his biography, and more. Pablo Picasso: Essay Introduction Pablo Picasso is one of my most admirable and inspirational artists. Picasso’s accomplishments in art have...
Introduction In the intricate tapestry of Chinese art history, the Ming Dynasty stands as a radiant thread, weaving tales of cultural brilliance and artistic innovation. Figure 1 illustrates “Jar with Carp in Lotus Pond,” a masterpiece that offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the flourishing creativity of the Jiajing mark and...
Introduction Vincent van Gogh, a renowned individual within the domain of art, was a Dutch painter who was closely affiliated with the Post-Impressionist artistic movement. The artistic contributions made by him exerted a significant influence on the evolution of art during the 20th century. The artistic creations produced by the...
Recovered in 1506 through excavation in Rome, the ancient Greek sculpture “Laocoon and His Sons” depicts three individuals in agony as they fight off serpents attacking them. It is attributed to the works of the Ancient Greeks sometimes between 200BC and 68 AD. The subject of the matter depicts the...
Introduction It is important to note that using written or oral means of communication are highly useful when trying to deliver information, but they are rather weak when it comes to sharing an experience. Photos that tell a story are vital because they contain more depth on visual aspects of...
Ancient Greek Theater and Sophocles’ Oedipus Many distinctive Western cultural institutions trace their roots to ancient Greece, and theater is no exception. The word theater itself comes from the Ancient Greek word theatron, which means “a place for viewing.” The Greeks were the first to define genres like comedy and...
Introduction When looking at Edouard Manet’s Olympia (1863) and Paul Gauguin’s Manao Tupapau (1892), it is possible to notice certain similarities in these remarkable paintings. The reason is that Gauguin was inspired by Manet’s Olympia in order to create his own proclamation of “indecent” nudity, but he chose another approach...
A naked woman reclining is a work of art featured in several art movements throughout history. Two works in this history are Ingres’ “Le Grande Odalisque” (French neoclassicism) and Manet’s “Olympia” (French Realism). When Ingres’ work in “Le Grande Odalisque” is examined, one can notice classical influence playing a crucial...
The Otago Museum’s strategic plan covers the organization’s core values, as well as the priorities of its stakeholders. The plan reflects the collective work of the active community inside the institution. The work encompasses three main goals upholding the mana of the collection, community engagement for further curiosity and inspiration,...
In Ways of Seeing, which is a book adaptation of the short television show by the same name from 1970s, John Berger talks about the importance of seeing in the daily life and art. From childhood, people learn to recognize and place themselves in their surroundings based on what they...
The first impression from the artwork Into Bondage by Aaron Douglas was positive because of the feeling of warmth from the sunshine and hope coming from a man looking up to the sky. Belief, light, future are the first words appearing in mind after looking at the picture. Some seconds...
The first artifact that I chose is “Mona Lisa” by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Many believe that this masterpiece has been painted between 1503 and 1506 in the Italian Renaissance period. Now, this artifact is part of the permanent collection of the Louvre Museum in Paris. The second painting...
Artist’s Background Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was simply known as Michaelangelo. He was an Italian poet, painter, architect, and gifted sculptor of the Renaissance who had an unmatched influence on Western art. He was an apprentice to a sophisticated painter before joining the Medici family to enhance his sculpture...
“Still Life with Apples and a Pot of Primroses” It is primarily important to mention that looking at different art creations is a chance for every individual to develop themselves, look at the world from the perspective of the creator, and enrich their knowledge. I believe that every person has...
“V for Vendetta” is a comic book that features scenes that were imagined in the 1980s. The book was written by Allan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. It was set in the futuristic United Kingdom. The book chronicles the actions of a masked revolutionary who calls himself “V.” This...
Introduction I have encountered van Gogh self-portrait during my visit to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. This painting is a part of a private collection, but it is displayed there among the works of other impressionists (“Self-Portrait”). The work is called Self-Portrait. It was made by a...
The painting by Winslow Homer called A Visit from the Old Mistress was created about ten years later after the end of the American Civil War. The painting is one of the most famous works of art in the United States and the world in general. It depicted a scene...
Introduction Beauty is an important aspect in many societies. Many people are conscious of how they look. The reality is evident even in medieval communities, where people used to put marks on their bodies to enhance their physical appearances. In contemporary society, obsession with beauty and physical appearance is manifested...
Overview The Nightmare by Johann Heinrich Fuseli (1741–1825) is an icon of Romanticism and is deeply rooted in collective memory. In his 1790/91 work (Fig. 1), Fuseli combined motifs from art, literature, myth, folk belief, and medicine with his obsessions and created the epitome of a nightmarish image. While the...
Introduction: David Sculpture by Michelangelo From my perspective, David’s sculpture by Michelangelo defines the timeline of the narrative’s events before the battle. In contrast to the other two sculptures, Michelangelo’s David exhibits a more subdued emotion (Barry, 2020). Therefore, I can conclude that the physical orientation of this David, in...
I remember when I first saw Edward Hopper’s paintings, I thought it was contemporary art since it differed drastically from my understanding of traditional American school. The colors and shapes were so memorable, and each artwork told a unique story that most ordinary people could understand. I was particularly fascinated...
Although the United States was the last major power to enter World War I, its soldiers experienced their fair share of fighting. American art noted the prominent importance of this contribution and commemorated it in books, songs, and painting. One of such paintings is “On the Wire,” created in 1918...
The Last Supper mural was created by Leonardo Da Vinci in the years 1495-1498 and belongs to the High Renaissance period. The work is located in the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria Delle Grazie in Milan and depicts the last supper of Jesus and his Apostles. In particular, Leonardo portrayed...
Any famous painting is a combination of both artistic talent and deep connotations invoked in it. Therefore, looking at an artwork merely as a picture without going deeply into the origins and subtle meanings of various scenes, and characters leaves many details unrevealed. A perfect example of a painting requiring...
Postmodernism is a vague notion that is widely used but not completely understood by everybody. Even a French philosopher Michel Foucault, being sometimes classed as a postmodernism itself, admitted that he did not know any postmodernist philosophers (Britannica). However, postmodern art is less debatable due to the fact that it...
Introduction The photograph “Starving Child and Vulture” made by Kevin Carter is one of the pictures that impress the souls and influence the minds of people. Since 1993, when it has been made, it remains a subject of discussion, referring not only to political issues, but also to deep social,...
Visiting museums may be very beneficial for enlivening a lot of important things related to historical matters in one’s mind. From time to time, when I have a chance to visit this or that museum, I find it very interesting and even inspiring. It helps me to put together the...
The Scream by Edvard Munch has inspired an American poet Monica Youn to depict her impression of the painting and the story of its stealing in her poem Stealing the Scream (Youn). The poet has chosen the genre of ekphrastic poetry to express her idea. This genre implies describing another...
Introduction The Voyage of Life: Manhood – is the third in a series of paintings by the American landscape artist Thomas Cole created in 1842 and presented in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. It is performed with oil on canvas with the overall size 134.3 x 202.6 cm...
Large Reclining Nude (1935) is a composition painted by Henri Matisse, showing a nude figure reclining in an interior space furnished with a chair and a flower vase. Thus, there are several ‘states’ of the same painting, with the composition changing to reach the desired degree of geometry (Kozbelt, 2006)....
Introduction The period of the Italian Renaissance lasted for several centuries, forming many different styles and inspiring many works that are now considered masterpieces. One of its eras often called the High Renaissance, started around 1500 and lasted approximately twenty years. While art historians debate the definition of this era to...
This essay will analyze the painting Approaching Thunder Storm by Martin Johnson Heade. The painting portrays a man sitting near a seashore. There is also a dog nearby, as well as two dhows sailing in the sea. The painting depicts the sea and the clouds as black, which shows that...
Distinctive Artistic Traditions of Ancient Greece and Rome Ancient Greece and Rome each had their own fascinating and distinctive artistic traditions. Even though they both affected one another, they acquired distinctive traits and styles that reflected the historical, sociological, and cultural circumstances in which they originated. The Romans developed a...
Introduction Representations of gender and gender roles play an important role in modern society, but they have had a significant impact on societies even in the distant past. To examine the different kinds of representations of gender in the past, we can analyze works from different eras, such as The...
Artist and Artwork Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) was an American artist who gained wide recognition in the 1980s for his unique style and innovative approaches to art. His work “Horn Players” (1983) became one of the key art pieces of the 1980s art movement, known as Art in the AIDS Era....
Introduction The Buddhist Triad featuring Maitreya, Shakyamuni, and Avalokiteshvara at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California, is analyzed. The 1000 CE Bihar, Gaya (?) artwork creates a peaceful and meditative environment that draws the visitor into Buddhism and its profound meaning. When entering the museum, the object’s simplicity and...
Introduction Albrecht Dürer, a 15th and 16th-century German Renaissance artist, profoundly influenced the art world through his prolific printmaking career. Known for his exceptional talent and dedication to the medium, he remains a pioneer in printmaking. This paper explores Dürer’s life, his contributions to printmaking, compositional analysis, and the lasting...
Subject Matter The Kimbell Art Museum is displaying the artwork On the Pont de l’Europe. This 64.7 by 81.3 cm oil painting on canvas, created by Gustave Caillebotte in 1876, shows a busy scene on a suspension bridge in Paris (Sunnyside). To express a sense of modernization and urban life...
The painting by Francesco Botticini entitled “The Madonna Adoring the Child” was created approximately in 1470 in Italy, Florence. It is made in the technique of the tempera on the panel. The choice of the religious subject depicting the Madonna and Jesus as the child was typical for the Italian...
Visual Form It is important to note that “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” belongs to the genre of ukiyo-e. A pattern in the picture is a pyramidal wave that appeared at the mouth of Kanagawa. It is interesting to mention that the artist created the bends of the wave and...
The Harvesters by Pieter Bruegel The first work to be discussed is The Harvesters by the Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder written in 1565. This painting is part of a series of six works illustrating the seasons and it “shows a hot, hazy midsummer day, perhaps near Lake Geneva”...
Introduction Renaissance humanism changed the perception of true art and ideals to pursue in Western civilization to a great extent. Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Sacrifice of Isaac, the door panel for the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence, embodies the movement’s ideas in its approaches to visual forms and the plot. This...
Both Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Fresco (1508-1512) and Rivera’s Man, Controller of the Universe (1934) seek to depict man’s place in the world. The Sistine Chapel fresco was commissioned by Pope Julius II for the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace and was painted by the Florentine artist Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni between...
Gustav Dore is one of the world’s most famous illustrators who are known for his artworks for such books as Bible, Don Quixote, Divine Comedy, and Paradise Lost, to name a few. In this regard, I would like to mention one of his drawings that had a significant impact on...
Introduction Art is a highly subjective matter that influences people in many ways. Culture, and subsequently, works of art, have the ability to carry the influences and impacts of their epochs (Leach, 2014). Eugene Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People is a product of the July revolution in France, and it...
Two images depict the same occasion, which is the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty signing. The first image demonstrates the USA government and the tribe leaders meeting at the special place. This place is considered as a traditional place for Native Americans. In the second image, there are colorful traditional clothes...
Have you ever thought of the Egyptians who lived thousands of years ago? It might seem that people of the 21st century are absolutely different and can have nothing in common with them but in fact, our lives are influenced by ancient craftsmen. The culture and art of Ancient Egypt...
Henri Cartier-Bresson once described photography in the following way: “For me, the camera is a sketchbook, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously.” True to his words, Cartier-Bresson came out as a unique photographer who used his camera...
Introduction In 1832 Greece demanded the return of marble statues that once served as a decoration in the famous Parthenon temple and were brought to England by Lord of Elgin at the beginning of the century. Almost two centuries later, the marbles are still exhibited in the British Museum, with...
Introduction One of the most notable individuals in the history of Mexican and Spanish art is Miguel Cabrera. Influenced by the evangelization of new Spanish territories in South and Central America, Cabrera produced the most famous paintings in the history of religious art. Many of the influential religious officials and...
Introduction The Metropolitan Museum features many significant exhibitions. One of the exponents in the Ancient Greece display is the Marble column from the Temple of Artemis at Sardis. It is an excellent illustration of the architecture of the era, which to this day remains an inspiration for many. Figure 1...
Vitruvian Man is a very famous and captivating drawing around the world. Its existence was enabled by Leonardo da Vinci around the year 1487 (Vallentin p. 3). The drawing has some accompanying inscription notes founded on Vitruvius Pollio’s work. It portrays a male image in two overlaying arrangements with his...
Discussion The focal point of this paper is to select one work of art from Los Angeles county museum of Art and write a comprehensive essay on its visual presentation and significance. The history of the artist and the stylistic or historical context from which it emerges is the central...
Introduction Interpreting different pieces of art throughout the history of humankind’s development allows connoisseurs to transfer back in time and feel what artists felt when making their pieces. By using the example of the bull-headed harp with an inlaid sound box from Pu-abi tomb (“King’s Grave”) the present exploration will...
Nowadays, the term auteur in moviemaking is commonly assumed to be referring to the director’s ability to leave an unmistakable mark of his/her individuality on the cinematographic pieces that he or she oversees being put into production. As Van Der Pol noted: “Directors are given the distinction of auteur for…...
Impressionism and Surrealism emerged at different times. The term “Impressionism” was created in 1974 (Davies 871), and 1924 was the year when surrealists proclaimed their manifesto (Bishop 396). Their influences, key ideas, and techniques were also reasonably different. However, both these art movements were built around the idea of expressing...
Introduction This essay discusses the changing representations of work between 1850 and 1888. Five pieces of art have been used to illustrate these periods while placing each work firmly within its social and historical context. The Stone Breakers by Gustave Courbet (1850) In the painting depicting two laborers, one youthful...
When considering the influences that the European art experienced in the early 20th century, one must mention Africanism as one of the most unique and unusual ones. In her article “The White Peril and L’Art nègre: Picasso, Primitivism, and Anticolonialism,” Patricia Leighten explains that colonialism had a massive impact on...
Are you about to write Christina’s World analysis? Explore the famous painting Christina’s World with our paper sample! Here, you will find explained Christina’s World meaning, genre, context, and other important aspects. Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World has a strong emotional appeal. This piece of art offers a unique insight into...
There are certain individuals in the world that have transformed the word success. They have reached the heights of it and they are known as a legend. Leonardo Da Vinci was among those individuals that are claimed to be the greats of the world. He was a sculptor, a painter,...
The Artist’s Background Gustav Klimt was an Austrian painter born in 1862 in Vienna who, in a certain way, revolutionized the way love and sexuality can be represented in art. Klimt was among the most progressive artists of the time: in 1897, he and other like-minded creators established the “Vienna...
Description of the Art Object Banksy Flower Thrower is a famous cultural work by the English graffiti artist Banksy. The result is a painted image of a person throwing flowers instead of stones on the walls. At first glance, the image appears contradictory; on the one hand, it highlights a...
Edo is a self-taught artist from south Chicago who produces a wide range of organized eclectic artworks to narrate the history of Edo’s journey in life. The Queen Mother Pendant Mask was made in the early sixteenth century. The artistic work was done for an Oba king, Esigie, to honor...
Throughout centuries, artwork and the style involved in bringing the pieces to reality have differed greatly as artists continuously find different ways to portray their perceptions and emotions. One best example of such is the difference in centuries between the artworks Titian’s Pastoral Concert and Manet’s Le Dejeuner sur l’herbe...
Biography Henri Cartier-Bresson was born in 1908 in France and died in 2004. Marthe, who was his mother, substantially motivated him to attend chamber music proms and reading poetry constantly. Cartier-Bresson had an extensive interest in painting at the age of five, after which his parents employed two art tutors...
