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...
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...
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...
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 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 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...
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 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 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...
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...
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...
“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...
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...
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 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,...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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 Mark Rothko (1903-1970) is a prominent representative of the New York School of modern art, who created paintings in many styles throughout over forty years of work. White Center (Yellow, Pink, and Lavender on Rose), 1950, is one of his signature paintings incorporating the motif of “soft, rectangular forms...
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...
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...
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...
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....
Understanding of the Image Walking on eggshells is a photograph by Sandy Skoglund, which depicts two women in a room with snakes, eggs, and rabbits on the floor. The two women are close together and one has her arm stretched towards the other, who is holding a towel. They both...
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...
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 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...
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 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 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...
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 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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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....
Introduction Cubism was an inventive movement which began in 1907 in France and its main aspect was featuring the surfaces of geometrical planes. The Cubist movement developed as a new wave art movement and was initiated by Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso, simultaneously. European sculpture, literature, music and painting were...
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,...
Introduction The Wine Container is one of the most iconic artifacts of the Shang Dynasty. During this era, bronze manufacturing technology existed in China in finished form. Artifact artisans were highly skilled, as evidenced by fine patterns, ornaments, and symbolic images on their products. The Wine Container made during the...
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...
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...
The artwork that was chosen to be explored is Memory (1942) by René Magritte. Originally titled La Mémoire, it was created in 1942 with oil on canvas and its size is 30 x 22 in. or 75,4 x 55,4 cm. This work is stated to having been exhibited in the...
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...
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...
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 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 The Metropolitan Museum of Art is among the most well-known art institutions in the world. The museum was established in 1870 to provide art and arts programs to the citizens of the United States. The main structure in New York City is located on Manhattan’s Upper Eastside. Its exhibitions...
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...
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...
Introduction For this paper, I have chosen the Ognissanti (or Enthroned) Madonna by Giotto di Bondone, which he created for the All Saints’ Church in Florence. It is a beautiful piece of art, one that operates on a grand scale and serves as a critical milestone in history. The author...
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 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...
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 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...
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...
Tattooing has existed as a form of visual art for centuries, reflecting unique human stories on their bodies. Indeed, ancient skeletons painted with ochre suggest that it was one of the first forms of art (Jones). Tattoos are created by placing ink to the deeper skin layers using needles to...
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...
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...
Abstract The purpose of this research paper is to summary and comment upon the changes in perception with regards to tattoos by the society over the years. While the unanimous acceptance of tattoos in the society has not yet occurred, tattoos have moved from being a taboo subject to gaining...
Introduction For many decades, artists have conveyed their opinions and advocated for their rights through their creations. The artist this paper presents is Ana Mendieta, a Cuban-American woman known for her outstanding installations and performances. One of the major themes her work is related to is the body in art....
Introduction Among numerous forms of arts and crafts that existed in Ancient Greece, it is possible to mention architecture as one of the most recognizable and influential aspects of this culture due to the combination of beauty and utility. The purpose of this assignment is to choose one example of...
Introduction Art is a form of expressing emotions, stories, and history, which is why it has been praised for centuries. Sculpture, paintings, and music have been among the most sophisticated ways to convey messages and share pieces of wisdom, touching the souls of the audience. Most often, songs and pieces...
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....
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...
The Ways of seeing chapter begins by explaining the difference between a man and a woman in terms of their presence. It says a man’s presence depends on power embodiments like moral, physical, temperamental, economic, social, and sexual. When this power is strong, the man is striking and when it...
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...
Local color realism is a writing style that is derived from the presentation of the characteristics and features inherent to a specific place and its inhabitants. Both Mark Twain and Sarah Orne Jewett created regionalist works. The role of the narrator is particularly relevant in such a context because they...
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...
Claude Monet is one of the most revered painters of modern times. During his long life between the nineteenth and twentieth century, Monet has extensively contributed to shaping Impressionism. The movement spanned from 1830 to 1926 and influenced many significant avant-gardes of the twentieth century, including Fauvism and Cubism (Hanafy...
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...
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...
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...
Introduction The artistic movement associated with David Alfaro Siqueiros’s work, Echo of a Scream, belongs to Mexican Muralism. This style of public art emerged in Mexico in the early 20th century. It was an expression of Mexican nationalism in direct opposition to the official ideology of the Mexican Revolution. Diego...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Mimesis The ancient Greeks approached art as a form of mimesis. They were convinced that the major objective of creativity is to imitate or copy reality. Such a definition may prompt artists to develop their skills in order to convey shadows, light, and other peculiarities precisely. However, it can be...
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 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...
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,...
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...
Romans were not shy about sexual exploits and their artists did not hesitate to create artworks depicting the same attitude. Some of the artworks were censored as pornographic due to the explicit sexual nature of the underlying information, specifically to avoid a clash of cultures as the empire continued to...
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 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...
Introduction The shift towards capitalist values in the modern world has marked a distinct change in the perception of art, which prompted numerous attempts to explain the phenomenon. The current paper analyzes the essay “Work of art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” by Walter Benjamin in order to determine...
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...
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...
Introduction Frida Kahlo is renowned for using symbolism in her creative paintings to portray her personal experiences via subliminal and imaginative lenses. In addition to depicting her emotional suffering, adversity, and fragility, Kahlo included societal and political principles in her artwork. Her paintings consistently include surrealism and social realism. The...
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...
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...
Introduction The given formal analysis will primarily focus on Byzantine Art, where the emphasis is put on more abstract elements rather than a naturalistic one. The image is a mosaic, where it brings distinctive features to the imagery, such as depth. The depiction, as a part of Byzantine Art, consists...
Introduction Albert Einstein is an outstanding scientist who gained fame for his physics discoveries and became a cult image. In addition to scientific achievements, a photo of Einstein, where he stuck his tongue out, gained significant fame. Today, this image is widely distributed and used in various fields – from...
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...
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 Roman civilization is the best known of all the civilizations of the ancient world. The Romans have left a vast literary legacy that allows one to trace the history of ancient Rome in an abundance of detail that never ceases to amaze him. The outstanding achievement of the fine...
“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 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...
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,...
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...
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...
In his article, Danto suggests two opinions about nudity and nakedness. The first one is concerned with embarrassment – refinement opposition, and the second one focuses on the vulnerability and disgrace of nakedness as opposed to nudity’s serenity and beauty. Danto explains his first viewpoint on the divergence between the...
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 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 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...
Introduction The art and architecture of Early Middle Eastern and Northeast African civilizations deserve particular attention. At the time of their rise, people explored the limits of their possibilities, creating items and structures that have survived to the present day. At the same time, they provide an in-depth insight into...
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...
Plato & Aristotle’s View of Art According to Plato, art is an imitation of things in the real world. However, these things for the philosopher were only shadows of their ideal images. Therefore, art turns out to be even further from the truth than the surrounding world, which it imitates....
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”...
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...
Introduction Today it is difficult to answer unequivocally the question of why man needs art. Some argue that art exists to beautify life: these people aim to discover beauty as an eternal law of being. Others believe that art should educate; they search for works for the good, the benefit,...
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...
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...
Introduction The great depression influenced American romanticism in a great way. Romanticism refers to a movement that used literature, music, and art to communicate messages to the society. Artists reacted to issues that arose in the society by producing paintings and pictures, writing novels and poems, and also producing music...
The age of new awakenings in Europe is called the Renaissance, and everything was changing in this period. This was one of the greatest periods of human history and it contributed many great minds to the society. The Renaissance Art was sometimes termed as the rebirth of the Classical traditions....
Introduction The theatre of absurd is attributed to the origin when a French philosopher Albert Camus through his myth which he wrote in 1942 did outline that the humans situation sand surroundings are in basic terms on no use, lacks meaning and are literally absurd From the movies that followed...
Graffiti is one of the most exciting and thrilling type of modern art. Different people consider art in different ways. Some understand it as the expression of people’s souls and ideas about society and life in general, the others are afraid of it and express their mistrust to people who...
Influential Photography Ansel Adams (1902-1984) was one of the most well-known landscape photographers and environmentalists whose works continue to charm art lovers nowadays. An ardent advocate of conservationism, Adams received his first camera in 1916, at the age of fourteen. At the time, photography had not even reached its first...
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 The history of the Impressionist movement would not have been complete without the name of Mary Cassatt. She was born in America but moved to Paris to study art and stayed there for life. She is known as a painter, draftsman, and printmaker. Still, she owes her popularity to...
Linda Nochlin a well-known art history scholar has written many essays on this subject, however, the essay that made the greatest impact on the field of history was “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” (NOCHLIN, par. I). From this idea and the profound question put up by Linda...
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...
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...
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 In the realm of Gothic literature, the exploration of the macabre, the grotesque, and the exploration of sin and punishment are paramount. The paintings “The Garden of Earthly Delights” by Bosch, “Three Figures” by Francis Bacon, and “Isenheim Altarpiece” by Grunewald, each in their own unique way, resonate with...
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...
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...
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 The Mona Lisa is among the globe’s most popular paintings because of several reasons. First, it is the brainchild of art genius Leonardo Da Vinci, who painted it as a respected and talented painter during his prime. However, several other features of the painting, apart from its captivating dynamics,...
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...
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...