The Great Sphinx of Giza vs. the Lamassu: Mythical Guardians in Ancient Cultures

Introduction Numerous ancient cultures feature mythical hybrid creatures with animal bodies and human heads. The Great Sphinx and the Lamassu are monumental in scale. Historical records surmise that the Great Sphinx of Giza was the brainchild of the 4th Dynasty King Khafre, who had it carved out of the Giza...

“Plastic Bag” Performance Art by Billie Posters

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...

David Sculptures by Michelangelo, Donatello & Bernini

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...

How Art Represents Reality in Plato’s View

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....

Mexicanidad in Frida Kahlo’s Paintings

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 Culture of Civilizations: A Comparison of Chinese and Japanese Art

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,...

Between World Wars: Marcel Duchamp and Salvador Dali

Marcel Duchamp was a French artist who combined talent and everyday objects to produce meaningful art and paintings. Duchamp broke down the difference between everyday objects and art. His father was a notary, and his older brother, Jacques Villon, was a painter. Fauvism and Matisse greatly influenced Duchamp’s earlier paintings,...

The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci

Introduction The picture pasted above is a well-known oil painting by the genius artist of the late 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci. The author of the picture worked on this masterpiece from 1495 to 1498. It was rather a long and complicated process of creating this artwork because just at...

“The Creation of Adam” by Michelangelo as Inspiration

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...

Images of the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Signing

Two images depict the same occasion, which is the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty signing. The first image demonstrates the USA government and the tribe leaders meeting at the special place. This place is considered as a traditional place for Native Americans. In the second image, there are colorful traditional clothes...

The Paintings of Van Gogh and George Seurat: Comparative Analysis

Discussion of contrasts evident in artworks from various ages and art movements is an essential part of art investigations. Understanding the differences between works created and analyzing the historical context of the era in question can significantly improve the historians’ knowledge regarding specific artistic approaches (Roslak, 2017). In this work,...

The Art of Ancient Rome: Eclectic Tendencies

Abstract The paper examines various art types of Ancient Rome from the historical perspective of the emergence, development, and decline of the state. Tracing intercultural influences in art, including theater, religious and philosophical systems that formed the basis for representations in art, architecture, visual arts, and other forms of symbolization,...

“Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog” by Friedrich

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...

Pablo Picasso’s “The Old Guitarist” and the Concept of Life Journey

Every person is faced with a creative or professional crisis at some stage in their life. The nature of these events is diverse, as well as their further influence on individual development. The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso has influenced my personal life and career, as it symbolizes the movement...

Jackson Pollock’s Painting “Convergence”

The creative activity of Jackson Pollock raised much criticism and doubts concerning its significance in the world of art and the level of professionalism and artistic talent included in it even at the time of Pollock’s life. The reason for such prejudice can be seen in the unique, individual style...

Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci Impact

Vitruvian Man is a very famous and captivating drawing around the world. Its existence was enabled by Leonardo da Vinci around the year 1487 (Vallentin p. 3). The drawing has some accompanying inscription notes founded on Vitruvius Pollio’s work. It portrays a male image in two overlaying arrangements with his...

“Transfiguration” Painting by Raphael

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...

Ancient Greek Architecture’s Influences on Modern Design

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...

Nudity and Nakedness in Paintings

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...

Judith Schaechter’s The Birth of Eve: Glass Art & Symbolism

The Birth of Eve is an artwork created by Judith Schaechter in 2013. There are many critiques of this piece of art as the style of the author is uncommon and unique. However, many people like the specific style the creator presents as it combines old techniques and new approaches....

The Impact of Public Art: Edmonia Lewis’s “The Death of Cleopatra”

Introduction Art is a visual expression of creative skills or imagination that viewers appreciate for its beauty. People also appreciate art, such as sculptures, paintings, murals, architectural art, or drawings, for their emotional power or aesthetics (Alle, 2012). Public art is a form of art displayed in physical public domains....

”A Visit From the Old Mistress” by Winslow Homer

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...

Arthur Miller’s Play “The Crucible”

Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible” is set in Salem, the 17th-century American society, characterized by religious austerity. Due to the strictness of religious laws, adherence to Puritanism enables one to maintain reputable moral and social standing. Major characters such as, Reverend Parris and Elizabeth, are too keen on maintaining a...

Analysis of Rupert Goold’s Modern Take on Shakespeare’s Macbeth Play

Introduction Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s most renowned plays, which portrays the transformation of a seemingly noble war hero into a ruthless tyrant. I chose to analyze a performance of the play, specifically the one directed by Rupert Goold in 2010. This modern take on Macbeth sheds light on...

The Painting “And Life Anew” by Rita Kernn-Larsen

The painting is named “And Life Anew.” and was created by Rita Kernn-Larsen in 1940. It is an oil on canvas painting that measures 26 7/8 x 20 7/8 inches or 68.3 x 53 cm (Detroit Institute of Art, n.d.). The painting is a naturalistic landscape view that shows the...

Introduction to Research in the Arts

Introduction Empirical research is a set of various procedures within the framework of scientific activity aimed at obtaining reliable information about the subject of research: a process or phenomenon. The research technology answers the question of how to get the data; the data itself answers the question of what was...

“The Great Wave off Kanagawa” Woodblock Print by Hokusai

Visual Form It is important to note that “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” belongs to the genre of ukiyo-e. A pattern in the picture is a pyramidal wave that appeared at the mouth of Kanagawa. It is interesting to mention that the artist created the bends of the wave and...

The Queen Mother Pendant Mask: Sculptural Portrait

Edo is a self-taught artist from south Chicago who produces a wide range of organized eclectic artworks to narrate the history of Edo’s journey in life. The Queen Mother Pendant Mask was made in the early sixteenth century. The artistic work was done for an Oba king, Esigie, to honor...

The “Guernica” Painting by Pablo Picasso

Introduction Guernica is a famous painting by the great Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. The canvas was painted in 1937, and the picture has a deep symbolic meaning associated with the Spanish Civil War. The main themes of the picture are the bombing of the Spanish city of Guernica, the horrors...

Art and Entertainment: Is There Any Difference?

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...

Visual Analysis of Roden’s “The Thinker” Sculpture

A rather canonic and historically important art sculpture is placed in the Roden’s Museum in Paris. The statue that will be discussed is The Thinker by August Roden in the genre of Realism, created in 1881. The composition represents a man in a deep and intense process of thinking, encompassing...

Edward Hopper’s Visual Art Analysis

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...

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Fresco and Rivera’s “Man…”

Both Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Fresco (1508-1512) and Rivera’s Man, Controller of the Universe (1934) seek to depict man’s place in the world. The Sistine Chapel fresco was commissioned by Pope Julius II for the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace and was painted by the Florentine artist Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni between...

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque: Mosaics of Byzantine Art

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...

Jackson Pollock in History of Art

Jackson Pollock is a world-famous conceptual artist from the US. Jackson created abstract expressionism, a trend in the last century’s art, which shifted the world’s attention from European classics to American innovation. He spread the canvas on the floor and moved around it, pouring and spraying paint with brushes and...

Cimabue’s “Enthroned Madonna and Child” and Giotto’s “Ognissanti Madonna”

The 1285 Cimabue’s Enthroned Madonna and Child and the 1305 Giotto’s Ognissanti Madonna have several subtle dissimilarities portraying the change in a rhetorical and stylistic sense at the beginning of the early Renaissance. These two pieces of art are also similar in many ways, and the artists depict great symbolism...

Tracing Raphael’s Career Development

Introduction Raphael was a prolific Italian artist who made a mark in art and architecture. He was born in 1493 and was privileged to work under the mentorship of his father, who was himself a court painter. Raphael’s hometown, Urbino, was a cultural center contributing immensely to his early career....

Self-Portrait With Bandaged Ear

The selected painting is the work of Vincent Van Gogh, called Self-portrait with bandaged ear, painted in 2-D and belonging to the social category as it reflects the artist’s inner state. Van Gogh always strove to paint himself and everything surrounding him without embellishment, conveying life as he saw and...

Art Creation & Reflection: The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo

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 Black Square by Malevich: History and Context

Suprematism is the genre with the main idea to supersede the modernist genres such as Cubo-Futurism. Its paintings are geometric and seem to be primitive. The Black Square is a typical example of a suprematist painting. It is unusual and dissimilar to typical art: it shows no familiar forms, only...

Tattoos Should Be Considered Fine Art

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...

Ancient Egypt and the 21st Century

Have you ever thought of the Egyptians who lived thousands of years ago? It might seem that people of the 21st century are absolutely different and can have nothing in common with them but in fact, our lives are influenced by ancient craftsmen. The culture and art of Ancient Egypt...

“Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni” and “Mona Lisa” Paintings

Portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni, created in 1488, was not drawn from real life. According to the existing versions, the starting material for the painting was a medal with a young woman’s profile, made especially for the marriage of Giovanna Della Albizzi to Lorenzo Tornabuoni. The author of the canvas is...

“The Starving Boy in Uganda” Photograph by Mike Wells

Introduction In the contemporary world, the problem of famine or starvation is often neglected due to its slight relevance in the First World countries. Nevertheless, food shortage is a serious issue in the African and Middle-East countries, particularly in the trying times of pandemics (Humanitarian Aid). The photograph by Mike...

“Freedom From Want” by Rockwell

Any famous painting is a combination of both artistic talent and deep connotations invoked in it. Therefore, looking at an artwork merely as a picture without going deeply into the origins and subtle meanings of various scenes, and characters leaves many details unrevealed. A perfect example of a painting requiring...

Repatriate or Keep: Should Museums Return Artefacts?

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...

Shakespeare’s The Tempest Directed by Gregory Doran

Introduction The Tempest is the title of the play watched; it was written by William Shakespeare and directed by Gregory Doran in the year 2016. It was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and held by it. The central driving force behind the production is its main character, Prospero. In...

Capturing the Motion. Monet and Hockney

The attempt to capture the essence of changing into a still image is one of the great dilemmas of painters of all times. Theoretically, it is impossible to depict an imperceptible movement of a dancer, the color nuances at the sunset, or the light flight of a butterfly in a...

Oedipus Greek Theatre Period and Its Influence

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...

“The Watch” by Gerald Murphy

The work under consideration in the following paper named “Watch” (Fig. 1) is completed by Gerald Murphy in 1925. It is accomplished in oil on canvas with dimensions of 199.39 x 200.36 centimeters. Currently the picture can be found in Dallas Museum of Art. The main themes of the paper...

Photography Impacts on Cultural Identity of Native Americans in America

Introduction The photos of Native Americans often turn out to be disadvantageous to the appearance of the indigenous Americans, especially in this era of photography. The delineations often propagate undesirable stereotypes and characters about them. Numerous elements of their beliefs, including the private devout rituals, emanated from the photographs. Hitherto,...

Gardner’s Objectivist View of Art

Aesthetics is one of the most complex issues discussed by philosophers since the times of Aristotle. While numerous schools of thought argue what constitutes the beauty or lack thereof, one may roughly divide them into two groups: objectivist and subjectivist. The former maintains that there are objective criteria for establishing...

“A Woman in Blue” by Thomas Gainsborough

The artwork under consideration is a picture of A Woman in Blue (1777-1779) by Thomas Gainsborough. The size of the original is 30 x 25 1/4 in (76 x 64 cm). The picture belongs to the Hermitage collection. The portrait A Woman in Blue by Thomas Gainsborough is the single...

The School of Athens as Renaissance Art Embodiment

The Renaissance is the period of European history, characterized by significant progress in sciences and humanities, as well as philosophy. This has been reflected in all forms of art, including music, painting, literature and architecture. Originating in Italy, the Renaissance took inspiration from the Greek and Roman antiquity and coupled...

The Power of Photography: Photography’s Reality Effect

Introduction A vivid study of the use of photography by Roland Barthes throws light on how the photographic documentary is held in life writing. I dispute that photographs in real-life writing encourage readers to look further than what is imaged to their own experiences relative to various sort of general...

Graffiti: Whether It Is a Good or Bad Side of Society

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...

The History of African Total Theatre

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,...

“Hamilton” Broadway Play: Growing the Audience

Introduction Hamilton is a famous Broadway musical devoted to the history of the United States. Based on the story of its success, there is a variety of ways to generate profits in the theater industry, including merchandise, social media strategies, and touring. This essay is devoted to the potential of...

Race and Ethnicity in Contemporary Art

The matters of race are still of considerable importance in today’s world. While the age of colonialism is over, the increasingly globalizing post-colonial world introduces new racial and ethnic hierarchies on both domestic and worldwide scale. Contemporary art reacts to these developments and mirrors them in the works of such...

Is Ryan Coogler an Auteur Director?

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…...

Renaissance: Titian’s “Bacchus and Ariadne” Painting

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...

“The Voyage of Life: Manhood” Painting by T. Cole

Introduction The Voyage of Life: Manhood – is the third in a series of paintings by the American landscape artist Thomas Cole created in 1842 and presented in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. It is performed with oil on canvas with the overall size 134.3 x 202.6 cm...

Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” Painting

Introduction The Starry Night is a recognized masterpiece by the prominent Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. This painting has influenced many works of art in the 20th century as well as some modern artists. In this paper, after a short outline of The Starry Night, I present my own painting...

Ansel Adams’s Photos’ Aesthetic and Philosophical Influences

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...

Fences by August Wilson: Denzel Washington vs. James Earl Jones

Introduction The play Fences, by August Wilson addresses us to Troy, who has to struggle for providing for his family. Two great actors, Denzel Washington and James Earl Jones showed the character of the protagonist and his relationship with a son in two different ways. As a result, the effect...

Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism: Guided Art Tour

Representing the objective reality through the lens of a particular culture and the personal vision of its author, art has always provided a plethora of topics for discussion and the methods of developing insight into a particular socio-cultural context. The transition from the Neoclassical period to Romanticism to Realism can...

Art Content and Context from a Curatorial Look

Studying the meanings that emerge at the intersection of the authorial intent and the choice of medium and stylistic tools used to convey the key ideas is one of the most exciting aspects of analyzing artworks. Therefore, the described process of studying the connections between the content and context, form...

Media in “V for Vendetta” Graphic Novel by Moore

“V for Vendetta” is a comic book that features scenes that were imagined in the 1980s. The book was written by Allan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. It was set in the futuristic United Kingdom. The book chronicles the actions of a masked revolutionary who calls himself “V.” This...

“Approaching Thunder Storm” Painting by Heade

This essay will analyze the painting Approaching Thunder Storm by Martin Johnson Heade. The painting portrays a man sitting near a seashore. There is also a dog nearby, as well as two dhows sailing in the sea. The painting depicts the sea and the clouds as black, which shows that...

Mastering Hamlet: Techniques for Portraying Shakespeare’s Prince of Denmark

Introduction Every actor should be aware of the peculiarities of the character, certain stories related to plays, and the way this character can be beneficially presented to the audience. The more an actor learns about the character, the more appropriate can be considered the method chosen to introduce this role....

Picasso, Primitivism, and Anticolonialism by Leighten

Synopsis: Leighten Picasso and other artists of prewar France were fascinated with the cultural and political issues of Africa, which was reflected in their art. Primitivism that was used to portray various social issues and excerpts from the everyday life of African countries could serve not only as an art...

Paintings: “Third-Class Carriage” and “The Gleaners”

Art is one of the major sources of information about cultural, historical and social development of society. In the late 19th century, the movement of romanticism was changed by realism which was focused on the truthfulness of the contemporary life. The leading theme of the realistic art was life of...

Medieval Art Characteristics

Introduction Medieval art is presented in various masterpieces of literature and architecture. Several styles were widely spread in the Middle Ages. The main goal of this paper is to describe examples of medieval art, highlighting their distinguishing characteristics. Manuscripts of the Early Middle Ages The Rochefoucauld Grail is a medieval...

The Thinker: August Rodin’s Sculpture

If you are about to analyze The Thinker sculpture meaning check out our essay sample! Here, you’ll find the philosophy behind the sculpture and its significance. So, why is The Thinker important? Find the answer with our sample! Abstract The Thinker is one of the most outstanding works of art....

Ancient Greek Sculpture: Periods and Characteristics

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...

West Side Story’s Production Design

Introductions West Side Story is indubitably one of the best modern renditions of Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. As evidenced by the numerous awards, it picked up the enormous fan base it cultivated after its release. Set at the western end of Manhattan, West Side Story tells the...

How Do Works of Literature Differ from Works of Visual Art?

There are a number of aspects in works of literature that are completely different from visual arts. To begin with, the appealing nature of visual art is higher than the works of literature. Any form of visual art is also unique. Works of literature refer to all forms of artworks...

Documentaries: How Art Made the World: More Human than Human

Introduction The BBC documentary “How Art Made the World: More Human than Human” explains why human beings form close associations with their cultures. God created human beings in the same manner. This common human identity does not prevent individuals from embracing various cultural practices. These unique and distinct cultures always...

Satire in Francisco de Goya’s and Banksy Works

Examples of artists using the tools of visual media to comment on the current state of affairs in their communities can be found both today and in past centuries. To demonstrate the use of satire in the visual arts through time, I chose The Family of Charles IV, painted by...

Unraveling the Enigma of Warhol’s Factory: Art, Excess, and Celebrity Obsession

Introduction The Factory, Andy Warhol’s studio, is history’s most widely recognized and infamous artist workspace. It was the scene of all kinds of depravity night after night, as Warhol worked in the background on his famous screen prints (Howie). The name ‘The Factory’ was indeed created by Warhol’s visitors (Howie)....

Comparison of Digital and Traditional Art Using Assylzhan Omarov’s “Soul”

Introduction Digital art is becoming increasingly prevalent in the creative field today. Most artists see the media as digital and done on a computer. This kind of art is becoming more accessible as the instruments and software needed for it are more widespread. Digital art is defined as “art made...

Common Themes in Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and McLean’s “Vincent” Artworks

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...

Gender Role Representations in Art: The Woman of Willendorf and Kouros

Introduction Representations of gender and gender roles play an important role in modern society, but they have had a significant impact on societies even in the distant past. To examine the different kinds of representations of gender in the past, we can analyze works from different eras, such as The...

Analysis of the Buddhist Triad Sculpture at Norton Simon Museum

Introduction The Buddhist Triad featuring Maitreya, Shakyamuni, and Avalokiteshvara at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California, is analyzed. The 1000 CE Bihar, Gaya (?) artwork creates a peaceful and meditative environment that draws the visitor into Buddhism and its profound meaning. When entering the museum, the object’s simplicity and...

The Battle of Self-Affirmation and Negation in Photography by Thomas Allen Harris

Introduction In his mesmerizing narrative, Thomas Allen Harris beckons us to ponder the dichotomy that has long ensnared the African-American experience through the lens of photography. He astutely unearths the “two conflicting legacies” embedded within the photographic tableau, forging an inquiry that transcends epochs and epochs—a persistent tug-of-war between self-affirmation...

Gothic Themes in Art: Sin, Suffering, and Dehumanization

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...

Great Ziggurat of Ur: Sumerian Architecture and Historical Insights

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 Great Piece of Turf” by Albrecht Durer

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...

Style and Function in Art: Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring

The work of art I have selected for the discussion is Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, which I have reviewed on the website of Mauritshuis museum. When I saw the painting for the first time, it appeared quite simple, but my interest grew the more I observed Vermeer’s...

Renaissance Humanism: Ghiberti’s “Sacrifice of Isaac”

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...

Pablo Picasso’s “Woman with a Watch” Painting

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...

The “Moses” Painting by Frida Kahlo

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...

Photographic Essay: The Key Advantages

Introduction It is important to note that using written or oral means of communication are highly useful when trying to deliver information, but they are rather weak when it comes to sharing an experience. Photos that tell a story are vital because they contain more depth on visual aspects of...

Exploring Dorothea Lange’s Legacy in Words & Pictures

Dorothea Lange is deemed one of America’s best photographers for her striking portraits of common people during the Great Depression and acute social awareness. However, not many know that she was also fascinated by the power that words hold. Lange felt that words were capable of adding necessary context to...

The “Seated Statue of Khafre” Sculpture Analysis

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...

“Girl With a Balloon” by Bansky

The name of Bansky art is “Girl with a Balloon” was seen stenciled on a wall at London’s West Bank in 2002. The period was characterized by the largest anti-war protest after the bombing of Iraq implying that there was high need for hope despite turbulent times. Bansky image, 27.5...

Shinto Religion and History of Japanese Art

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...

A Philadelphia Museum of Art Experience

Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the most sophisticated museums in the US. It is also one of the most visited museums in the nation and is reported to offer satisfactory experiences. The museum, offering both historical and contemporary artworks covers the visitors with various types of experience. My...

Christian Boltanski in History of Art

Christian Boltanski is one of the most famous self-taught creators globally, originally from France and Paris. Christian was engaged in various types of art, starting with painting and sculpture in the classical sense and ending with photography and cinematography. He directly touched on the symbolic themes of the passage of...

Defining Art in the Past and Present

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...

Surrealism and Dadaism: Comparative Analysis

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...

“The Cow’s Skull: Red, White, and Blue” Painting by Georgia O’Keeffe

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...

Online Museum Tour: “The Son of Man” by René Magritte

Introduction I chose “The Son of Man” by René Magritte, which is a 1964 painting. Magritte is most famous for his “The Treachery of Images” or “This is not a pipe” (Ceci n’est pas une pipe) work, as well as many others. Below is the image of the painting I...

The Dinner Party Installation by Judy Chicago

What is the purpose of your artwork? The Dinner Party is an installation piece created by Judy Chicago over five years (1974-1979); it is considered the first epic feminist artwork. The primary purpose behind this complex artistic work was to end the recurrent cycle of omission, wherein women were written...

Pop Art Movement: Origins, History, Cultural, and Thematic Overview

Introduction Pop art is an artistic movement that began in the 1950s and reached its peak in the sixties. It started in London and New York as a wave of rebellion against the dominant forms of art and was characterized by its widespread usage of images of popular culture and...

Hybridity in Colonial Art: African Nations or Former European Colonies

Former colonies of different nations, especially those where the colonizing country never established a strong presence of its natives, tend to demonstrate a blending of cultures. Their original residents retain their art and traditions, though they may decline with time, and the colonizers bring their practices with them. By the...

The Natural History Museum in London

Background History of the Museum Located on the Exhibit road, along the south Kensington area, the main frontage of the Natural History Museum is on the side of Cromwell Road. The Museum has 70 million specimens gathered from earth and life sciences. The Museum is known as a center for...

Kandinsky’s and Matisse’s in Different Aspects of Art

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...

“Flaming June” by Frederic Leighton Analysis

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...

Cave Drawings of Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc and Lascaux

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...

Local Color Realism: Twain vs. Jewett

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...

Imagination as a Source of Art

Janet Echelman (2011), in her Ted Talk “Taking imagination seriously,” proposes a new way of interacting with the ordinary things. When she was a teenager, she applied to several art schools but was not accepted to any of them. She decided to study art and sculpture on her own, and...

The Painting “Toy Pieta” by Scott Avett

Introduction The painting Toy Pieta by Scott Avett was one of the first ones I saw after entering the website of the North Carolina Museum of Art. It grabbed my attention from the first second, and even though I spend a considerable amount of time exploring other available works, I...

Design of Act IV Scene I of Shakespeare’s Macbeth Play

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...

“Warrior With Trophy Head”: Analysis of the Piece of Art

Introduction Ancient people have not left a wide range of resources about their lifestyle. Modern people know a measurable number of written memorials, so archeological artifacts appear to be the most informative method of acquiring knowledge about ancient cultures. They involve architecture and sculpture, which specifics can be helpful in...

Visual Analysis – Editorial Cartoon

The student debt crisis raises an increasing concern in different segments of the USA society mainly because it places the enormous financial burden on both a distinct individual and the USA budget. The fierce debates primarily revolve around effective solutions on how to repay or reduce the debt and make...

“Creation of Adam” by Michelangelo

Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam is a renaissance era work depicting the Judeo-Christion God creating the first human. It is a part of a larger composition of paintings on the same ceiling. Unlike many conventional oil paintings on canvas, the Creation of Adam was developed directly on the plaster ceiling of...

John Gast’s Painting “American Progress”

John Gast’s painting “American Progress” (1872) is linked to the subject of manifest destiny. It was a political concept that first appeared in 1845 and became a part of the American foreign policy narrative in a relatively short period of time, managing to live through centuries, to some point reflecting...

The History and Concepts of Art Nouveau

Introduction Art Nouveau is a common name for a decorative style that was flourishing during roughly 1890-1910. Not only did it exist in graphics and architecture, but it was also used for the decoration or designing furniture, utensils, fabrics, ceramics, jewelry, door frames, subway entrances, and many other things. The...

Chinese Painting in Shi Tao`s “Hua Yulu”

Introduction Working on this assignment I have gotten deeper into the gist of Chinese landscape painting solely on the example of Shitao. The overall analysis of features discussed in his Huayu Lu helps in delineating particular points in the style of painting. Further still it is quite clear to me...

Whether Artists Reject Society, or Are Rejected by Society?

To begin with, a person of an artist in all times was the theme of intensive discussions in terms of high points about morality and culture. The artists usually contributed to the society’s distinct values of character and traditions. This approach also contemplates that artists differ from other people. Their...

The Purist Avant-Garde and the Radical Avant-Garde Art Movements

Following Charles Jencks, avant-garde art of the 20th century can be divided into two main trends: the Purist avant-garde and the Radical avant-garde. Each of these trends is marked by the unique perception of reality and the world around us. Both trends of avant-garde art move away from mass art...

Greek and Egyptian Ceramics Art Comparison

Introduction The world of art is a versatile entity of different implementations of imageries and creative thoughts fixed in a proper time, event, and epoch. This outlines art in its history as a succession of thought within artistic people so that to illustrate the gradual steps in changes. In this...

Eddie Adams’s Photo of Shooting a Viet Cong Prisoner

Introduction Expressing emotions and impressions from looking at a photo can be quite a difficult task. This statement could be arguable because the main goal of such work is to have the people go through some sort of visual analysis. However, such analysis could stay private, rather than being described...

Salvador Dali and Leonardo Da Vinci: Biography

Salvador Dali and Leonardo da Vinci were key figures in their historical epochs. The unfitness and significance of these men is that both Dali and da Vinci made a great contribution to painting, sculpture, graphic and design, created new methods and techniques, new vision of reality and the world around...

Religion, Cults, and Rites in Roman Art

Faith in the existence of the impalpable and infallible divine being was a common theme among Roman artists during the time of the empire. During this time, people did not have sacred texts, and thus they relied on art to express their thoughts concerning religious matters. As such, sculptures and...

Ancient Greek Marble Column at the Metropolitan Museum

Description of the Selected Example The selected example is one of the central objects in Ancient Greece exposition that can be found at the Metropolitan Museum. It is a marble column from the Temple of Artemis at Sardis, which dates back to ca. 300 BC (“Marble column,” 2018). It is...

Functions and Importance of Museums as Repositories

Introduction Since the advent of civilization, human beings have been interested in collecting, keeping and displaying things hence giving rise to the concept of museums. (Drurie,1997, p. 30). Museums have been termed as having historically been repositories where real physical objects that existed many years ago are kept. They have...

Images of Mother and Child in Mary Cassatt’s Works

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...

Greek Pottery and Ancient Art Periods

Introduction Greek art has evolved for more than 2,000 years with most of its traces found in pottery. However, a large part of the history related to Greek pottery began emerging after the dark period. Some of the major periods, which are visible from the Greek art during the time,...

Ancient Egypt: Head of Colossal Statue of Ramesses II

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...

Exploring Juan O’Gorman’s Functionalism in Mexican Art

Introduction: Juan O’Gorman, an Innovator and the Proponent of Artistic Synthesis Born in Mexico and now quite famous due to his accomplishments in architecture, Juan O’Gorman created numerous art pieces packed with symbolism. As his father was a painter, O’Gorman had been exposed to art since childhood. This artist promoted...

Vincent Van Gogh and Salvador Dali Comparison

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...

The Tempest: How Stagecraft Creates an Atmosphere of Despair and Hope

Shakespearean works are said to be timeless. The famous plays of the great Bard of Avon are known to be staged on an occasional basis in some of the most eminent theatres around the world and attract audiences from practically every corner of the globe. Critics view such works as...

Historical Literary Survey on Modern Theatre and Drama

Introduction Historical literary surveys about modern theatre and drama are mainly based on the arguments relating to author, the masterpiece, or the period in consideration. Studies on literary surveys about modern theatre are aimed at offering concise explanation and critical consideration of important aspects of literary discussion terms such as...

Harlem Renaissance: Redefining African American Identity Through Art

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...

Pedro de La Blanca Calderon’s Drama “Life Are a Dream”

Staging plays to reinvent the ideas offered by various authors in their plays is one of the trickiest issues imaginable – not because these ideas are so hard to convey with the help of a certain visual medium, but mostly because setting a staged play based on a certain work...

Privatization of Public Spaces in Urban Design

Introduction Public spaces may easily be attributed to governance planning and design, although most often than not, have been criticized for failing to consider many aspects of reality: human existence and sustainability, environmental concerns, and other spoken and otherwise contempt for such failures. It is to be understood that public...

Comparison of Light in Leonardo and Tintoretto’s Last Supper Paintings

Introduction Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper and Tintoretto’s The Last Supper are two renowned paintings depicting the same biblical event. Yet, they exhibit stark differences in their utilization of light, which largely reflects their respective eras. Light in da Vinci’s Painting In Leonardo’s work, light is used realistically and...

Edward Hopper’s New York Movie – Analysis of Isolation and Symbolism in Art

Introduction Edward Hopper’s “New York Movie” painting demonstrates an exciting and delicate scene inside a theater. Carefully combining details and deftly working with light and shadow, Hopper presents a composition of isolation and emotional detachment. Thus, the painting reveals the transformative power of art, allowing the viewer to feel the...

Claude Monet’s Legacy in French Impressionism and Artistic Innovation

Introduction Among various world-renowned impressionists, the name of Claude Monet takes first place as a founder of the French Impressionist painting movement. Monet began his career as a caricaturist in his native Le Havre (“Person: Claude Monet,” 2022). However, after meeting such prominent figures as Camille Pissarro and Eugène Boudin,...

Symbolism and Time in Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory: An Analytical Perspective

Artwork Analysis Title, Author, Medium Art history has numerous examples of pieces that have influenced humankind by introducing new symbols of old concepts. Salvador Dali’s 1931 painting “The Persistence of Memory ” is an excellent illustration of this phenomenon.” The medium is oil on canvas, and the image presents a...

Giant Shuttlecraft at Nelson-Atkins: Scale, Absurdity, and Human Perspective

Introduction While walking around the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, I suddenly came across a giant shuttlecraft created by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. This massive object inspires fear with its enormity and evokes genuine amazement. Upon reflection, I am compelled to consider its significance in the...