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.
Art Critique Essay
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.”
Art History 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.
Compare & Contrast Art Essay
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:
Colors
Texture
Space distribution
Arrangement of elements
Mood or message
Realistic vs. artistic work
35 Art Essay Topics
How do different authors interpret the same abstract of The Bible?
How did the history of fashion design impact the way we dress now?
What are the most famous artists of the Rennaissance, and what are their similar features?
Why is contemporary art less academic than classical?
Outline an interior design of a small apartment that wisely uses its space.
What is art? The essay requires your personal feelings and considerations.
Write an argumentative essay about why not all artworks should be deemed art.
Should visual art be realistic or imaginary?
How does the duration of a musical piece influence the listener’s perception?
Analyze a city for which architecture has created a recognizable style.
Write an introduction and conclusion to a book you like, inventing the prehistory and continuing the main events.
How does a composer’s life influence the mood of their music?
Analyze the symbolism of red color in graphic design and why it sometimes should be avoided.
Explore the influence of sad music on our mental state, providing examples.
Why do art fairs flourish in the XXI century?
How has globalization changed the way we perceive art?
Find out the factors that make children’s cartoons an art.
Why do we mostly appreciate the artists who revolutionized their time?
Why is stained art no longer popular among artists?
How did the Japanese lifestyle lead to the creation of rock garden art?
Explain the difference between Rococo and Baroque.
What does origami (folded papers) lack to be deemed an art?
Is any creative person an artist?
Advertisement: When art ceased to be a low-income activity.
Which work of art influenced the world the most?
Can computer programs create art?
Why are art critiques rarely creators themselves?
How did the second industrial revolution influence the development of modern art?
Is the purpose of art to reflect the topical issues of society?
Discuss the unique style of Gustav Klimt and find its central features.
Do you believe in the effectiveness of art therapy?
How could museums attract more visitors?
Why do we give low value to mass-market art?
How did Ancient Greek sculptures influence our contemporary world?
Find out the similarities between Nazi and Soviet visual art.
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...
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...
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...
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 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 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...
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 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...
“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...
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...
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...
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,...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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 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,...
An artifact can be defined as an object made by man, as opposed to natural; an object produced for functioning in the field of art (Hoły-Łuczaj, 2020). Mostly, the term ‘artifact’ is used in archeology and refers to an object found by archeologists. However, any kind of artificial product such...
“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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
This collage is about youth lifestyle, including their favorite activities and past times, approach to life, way of thinking, and outlook. The pictures in the collage combine to tell a wholesome story about how youths conduct their lives. Youth are in a stage of life defined by self-realization and actualization....
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...
Introduction According to many historians and researchers, most of the famous works by Frida Kahlo portray the unique challenges encountered by Mexicans from 1930 to 1960. She used her traumatic experiences to describe the nature of the country’s heritage. From the 1940s, Mexico was keen to establish its cultural identity...
William Shakespeare’s plays have the outstanding status of being in the midst of the greatest in English language and literature. Historians have often regarded the fact that the fame of Shakespeare basically rests on his understanding of his human nature. Shakespearean theatre (Elizabethan theatre) plays a vital role in Western...
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....
Introduction African theatre has been described by Kennedy as that of “festivals and rituals share a common dramatic experience in a communal setting through group participation. They celebrate life and examine the survival scene. And in the midst of this communion of vibrations is the use of regalia, dramatic expression,...
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...
Hung Liu is one of the most famous painters of the 20th century who expresses Chinese and American cultures. She was born in Changchun, China, in 1948 and moved to the United States by the end of the 20th century (Nigris 192). Liu is known to often portray courtesans, entertaining...
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...
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 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...
Introduction The “Seated Statue of Khafre” represents the old Egyptian Kingdom, 2575-2525 BC, best known for the Sphinx and the three Great Giza Pyramids. The statue depicts the fourth dynasty and is one of the most iconic and significant surviving sculptures that ancient Egypt offers. The statue’s function transcends the...
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…...
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....
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 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 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...
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...
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 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 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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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)....
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 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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
Introduction Surrealism and Dadaism are highly recognizable art movements predominant in the early 20th century. Supposedly surrealism that became common in the 1920s could have emerged from dadaism, which developed earlier in 1916 to 1920 and may have outgrown it. Both movements have distinctive cultural connotations and periods despite the...
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 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 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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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,...
Introduction Theater is a unique phenomenon that emerged in ancient times and remains popular today. Among various forms of art, it is one of the most attractive to viewers because of the costumes, decorations, and live performances. Actors use the play written by a certain author and present it to...
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...
Introduction Macbeth is an interesting play to read as well as watch it being performed. Delving into Act IV Scene 1, which shows Macbeth not wanting to believe the reality of what the future holds for him. Even though the witches had revealed to him that he would be faced...
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...
Introduction Chris Ofili is a Nigerian born in Manchester in 1968 and now living in Trinidad and Tobago, a graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, a member of the Young British Artists group, and the winner of the Turner Prize for 1998. His works are already in...
Introduction The modern take on many concepts of art from the past may revitalize outdated ideas with new colors. Artworks change alongside society, and Kehinde Wiley focuses on a single aspect of this shift: the globalization and homogenization of cultures. For this essay, the work Dogon Couple by Kehinde Wiley...
Introduction Arpita Singh is the first female artist in India to represent the homeworld in her paintings. Her early works reflect images of childhood memories, absorbing the world’s complexities around her. The bright details of everyday life in the childhood home bloom with colors in her drawings. In most of...
The history of art is the history of intellectual appropriation and reinterpretation. No work exists in a vacuum and can be truly original; a quote commonly attributed to Picasso states that “good artists borrow, great artists steal”. In this assignment, we take one of the most famous paintings of all...
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...
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...
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...
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...
The work in question is entitled Pepper No. 30, created in 1930 (“Pepper No. 30” n.p.). The artist’s name is Edward Weston. This black and white photograph depicts a close-up of a “bell pepper on the concave surface” against a dark background (“Pepper No. 30” n.p.). The dimensions are 24.4...
The term supernatural refers to the phenomenal ability to overcome the power of natural laws. Supernatural concepts such as angels, demons, magic, and deities are mainly founded on elements in the Christian religion; however, many religions and folk traditions in different cultures also include elements of the supernatural. In ancient...
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...
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...
Art has always been used as an instrument to create awareness, express emotions, and entertain the audience. Consequently, to appreciate an artwork accordingly, it is necessary to conduct full analysis on the artwork and its creator. Flaming June is a magnificent work of art created by Frederic Leighton, a British...
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...
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...
Introduction Artists have the talent of presenting their ideas through drawings or sculptures. From a sculpture, one can be able to understand the idea that the person who developed it wanted to put across. Different artists may come up with the same artwork but each has a different meaning. Based...
The art of ancient Greece is typically characterized by several periods through which the historians view its development. Three of the most prominent periods are archaic, classical, and Hellenistic. Each of these periods has particular distinctive features that reflect the transformation of views and values within the Greek society and...
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...
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”...
Multiple people believe the Mona Lisa is an exceptional painting that was highly appreciated even when Leonardo was still working on it. Indeed, the Mona Lisa is a realistic portrait, and the painter devoted particular attention to the delicate skin of Mona Lisa’s palms (Keshelava, 2020). However, the details alone...
Frida Kahlo presents an interesting case of creating surrealistic artworks despite generally denying it herself. Apart from many artworks, which can be considered controversial regarding their surrealistic features, her work Moses (Figure 1) undeniably contains a surrealistic sense and message. The painting reflects her understanding of Moses and Monotheism, the...
Many people see art, especially popular art, as a form of entertainment. They consider that since art pleases the eye and senses, it is made to entertain and make people relax. However, this notion is far from being true. The difference between art and entertainment is that art often requires...
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...
Art plays a vital role in modern life, touching upon emotional, psychological, social, and financial aspects. It is also a good opportunity to share interests and develop creativity in humans and address the issues that bother communities in their unique way. Today, it is easy to find a number of...
Rethinking the past is beneficial for idea generation, so turning to the universally recognized masterpieces for inspiration is a common practice. The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, one of the key tourist attractions of the Vatican, is among such thought-provoking pieces. This paper presents a drawing inspired by Michelangelo’s painting...
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...
For this assignment, I have decided to choose a painting by Charles White which is called “Hand.” This and other paintings of this artist can be found on the official website of Jerald Melberg Gallery that is situated in Charlotte, North Carolina. This painting was the one that attracted my...
Wanderer above the Sea of Fog is an oil painting by a German artist, Caspar David Friedrich, created in 1818. It depicts a young man standing back to the viewer at the precipice, observing mountain ranges that extend in front of him (Friedrich, 1818). He is wearing a long overcoat...
The Ancient Middle East had produced many great civilizations, each with its own contributions to the region’s history and culture. Mesopotamia was one of the earliest centers of civilization in the Near East and the world in general, and its cities were among the most developed ones in terms of...
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,...
Formal analysis The head of a Colossal Statue of Ramses II is a bust of Pharaoh Ramses II, one of the most successful kings of the ancient Egyptians. It is one of the series of colossal objects that were used to decorate the front part of several rectangular pillars making...
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...
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...
Fig. 1 features Albrecht Dürer’s 1503 work “The Great Piece of Turf.” It is currently located at the Albertina Museum in Vienna. The artwork’s height and width are 40,8cm and 31,5 cm, respectively (Dürer). As for the media and the modes of expression, the work is a gouache and watercolor...
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...
In 1907, Diego Rivera received a scholarship to survey Europe. There he was to continue his study of art, which he had begun as early as 1897 (Norwood, 2019). Rivera returned to Mexico in September 1910 to show what he had learned; the artist revealed his paintings at the National...
To try and define what art or artwork is is a gargantuan task. Perhaps, more challenging than creating art or deciphering the central idea that the author put into their work. Art is extremely personal, but, at the same time, it is available to all. Art does not discriminate against...
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...
The Chicano Movement gave rise to a Chicano cultural identity with which many Mexican Americans associate themselves to this date. It constitutes a unique mixture of both American and Mexican cultural aspects which shape its basis. The Chicano culture is the result of the American Mexicans’ experiences and their ability...
Introduction Scale and Proportion William Adolphe’s Admiration artwork is a 147 ×200 centimeters painting of oil on canvas. The painting is located at the San Antonio museum in the United States. It depicts six figures who are most likely siblings placed in a foreground of a tree shrub. The figures...
Reflection Photographs give information on what real-life scenarios look like away from human influence. In this case, a sketched photo of a girl on a bridge on Lake Garda is compared to that taken in real life. The picture shows a vast scene of an unending sea and a girl...
The word art means imaginative work or opinions, which is a responsibility to make things that exhibit beauty, appearance and uncommon insight. It is the ability to create or make things, which brings a difference between human beings and the world of nature (Your Dictionary.com, 2006, par.1). According to Answer.com...
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...
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...
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...
Sol LeWitt was an American conceptual artist, an expert in his domain who held numerous exhibitions in museums and galleries, and wrote the “Paragraphs on Conceptual Art.” In those “Paragraphs” he wrote that “the idea becomes the machine that makes the art.” LeWitt saw this principle as a basis of...
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...
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...
Introduction It is not a contention that the Internet has created a single medium where millions of people from different parts of the world can share information. However, its accessibility means it is not business as usual for players in the media and journalism industry. Over the past few years,...
Introduction Thriller is a genre that draws viewers in with its suspenseful plot, dramatic tension, and unexpected turns of events. In the play A Trick of the Light, author Scott Gibson utilized these elements to create an exciting and unpredictable thriller. Gibson masterfully weaves together a complex web of intrigue...
Wu Guanzhong took motivation from modern western artwork and broke away from the legendary history of Chinese paintings and drawings to produce pieces that perfectly encapsulate the genre. The masterpieces by him that most of his followers are familiar with, which depict this, are from the late 1970s (Liu, 2019)....
For the purposes of this Arts Performance Review, I have viewed a piece of performance art titled Plastic Bag, which has been created in 2019 by Billie Posters. He is a video, print, and performance artist based in Sydney, Australia, who self-reportedly focuses on movement in his practice. The performance...
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...
Introduction The paper will consider the painting “Crack is Wack” which Keith Haring created. The artist used catchy slogans to make a quick and effective statement. One of the most prominent examples is “Crack is Wack”, a mural about the crack cocaine epidemic and its consequences in New York City...
This painting has a shape based on a combination of different geometric shapes. It can be noted that a combination of various straight and broken lines is used. It should be noted that this picture can be described based on the expressive theory of evaluation, due to the peculiarities of...
Frida Kahlo Frida Kahlo used to be a mixed-race painter from Mexico who lived for 47 years before she died in 1954. She was born in 1907 and died in 1954 after being infected with polio. Frida wedded renowned Rivera, later divorced, but again re-united and converted to a radical...
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...
This is a statue of Sennuwy, which was found in a tomb at Kerma. It was buried with a Nubian King three hundred years after Sennuwy died. The meaning of the Sennuwy statute is that it represents the new dynasty and the old Egyptian Kingdom. This statue is carved very...
Cave paintings are the oldest and most interesting source of knowledge about the cultural development of the past millennia. Each new image uncovered is an encouragement to a better understanding of the ancient world. The two remarkable finds, the murals in the Lascaux and Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc caves, are both the greatest...
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...
Introduction This is an oil painting purportedly, a self-portrait drawn by Jan van Eyck in 1433. It is evident through the inscriptions which have been translated to English and mean “Jan van Eyck Made Me on October 21, 1433″. Jan van Eyck was one of the pioneers of the early...
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...
The experience of visiting a museum is often compared to contemplation as visitors reflect on what they see and try to make inferences regarding the various types of art. As mentioned by Duncan and Wallach (1840), museums hold the same artistic and historical value as churches, shrines, and even palaces...
The Theme of the Exhibition: Heroic Rape The theme chosen for the exhibition is Rape imagery depicted in art. Rape imagery in medieval art did not always depict rape as it is conceived today: non-consensual, forcible penetration not necessarily of a woman by a man (Wolfthal 286). Rape in art...
Introduction When it comes to analyzing historical personalities, it is easier to approach those whose contribution can be measured by the economic and political impact their activities produced on contemporaries. The picture is quite different from people of art as there are no objective parameters that determine why one master...
Introduction The Harlem Renaissance, also known as New Negro Movement, was an important cultural movement that started in 1918 to 1925. Its effect was felt several years after as the African tried to express their culture differently. The African American writers, painters, and other artists were keen on rewriting their...
The Piano Lesson is a play by August Wilson, an African American playwright, who was popular for writing plays about the African-American experience in the twentieth century. The play has strong sentiments on the role of history in the shaping of future lives. The play title was encouraged by a...
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....
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...
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 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...
Saint Mark and David inspired humanism, an intellectual movement of the Renaissance. During the Renaissance, artists gave up on middle-age traditions in architecture, painting, and sculptures, mainly for church decoration, and adopted humanist beliefs. They shifted their focus from religious arts to capturing detailed human bodies; this was an art...
Introduction The Louvre is one of the most famous sights of Paris and one of the most famous art museums in the world. The trip to the Louvre took place at the end of May. The museum has an official website where the visitor can view all available information about...
The artwork I choose is The Fireboat, 1918, by Charles M. Russell. It is an 18 x 12-inch oil on-board painting that can be found at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana. After the death of Frederick Remington in 1909, Charles Russell became the most famous artist specializing...
Introduction “Starry Night” is one of the most famous pictures of Vincent van Gogh, which was created when he was in the asylum due to his mental health problems. It is generally thought that it depicts the view from his window there. The work of art has always been regarded...