Artists & Artworks to Know: Ceramics & Sculpture Art Fall 2013

Venus of Willendorf Prehistoric Art Artist Unkown Oolitic Limestone c. 28, 000 BC – 25, 000 BC Naturhistorisches Museum Vienna, Austria Discovered in 1908 near Willendorf, Austria. Carved during the Paleolithic Period (or the “Old Stone Age”) Has no feet and never stood on its own. Believed to have been associated with fertility and childbearing – thus, a fertility goddess. The figure has no visble face and her head being covered with what may be plaited hair or a type of headdress.

Stepped Pyramid of King Djoser Ancient Egypt Imhotep 203 ft. high Polished White Limestone Saqqara necropolis, Egypt 27 th century BC -First architectural sculpture remains in which we know the architect. -This first Egyptian pyramid consisted of six mastabas built atop one another in what were clearly revisions and developments of the original plan. -Considered to be the earliest large-scale cut stone construction.

Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang Ancient China BC Terracotta Mount Li, China -First emperor of China. -It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor. -Purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife. -Discovered in 1974 by local farmers. -Estimated: 8, 000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses. -Life-size figures: Vary in height, uniform, and hairstyle according to rank. -They held real weapons and were originally brightly painted.

The Discus Thrower Greek Art Myron c BC Original Greek Bronze – lost Known through Roman copies in marble 5’1”high Museo Nazionale Romano-Oalazzo Massio alle Terme. -An intense focus on the human form and it’s ideal qualities. For men – very muscular; For women – very well- endowed. The thrower is about to release his throw; thus, mid-action.

North Rose Window Gothic Art Chartres Cathedral 1230s Stained Glass Chartres, France -King David sits atop a circle of 12 Kings of Judah and other prophets (outer circle) and angels (inner circle), all centered on the Virgin Mary and Child. -Dedicated to the Virgin Mary -During the time period, much of the population was illiterate; therefore, a greater emphasis was put on symbols. Specific numbers, colors and objects all told stories to the viewers.

Pieta Renaissance Art Michelangelo Marble 68.5 x 76.8” St. Peter’s Basilica Vatican City, Vatican -Michelangelo broke the tradition of artists of his day; he did not use the accepted mathematical formulas for human proportions. As a result, each of his works contains a unique personality. -Pieta contains an enormously large Virgin Mary. If she were to stand up – she would be a giant in comparison to Christ Jesus. It is only piece Michealangelo ever signed. The work was commissioned for a French cardinal’s funeral monument.

The Thinker Neoclassical Art Auguste Rodin 1904 Bronze on a stone pedestal 73” high Hotel Biron – Rodin Museum Paris, France -Rodin focused on the human figure. He chose instead to distort the figure to demonstrate the physical and emotional responses of his subject. But unlike Michelangelo, who was an expert carver, Rodin loved modeling. He would manipulate clay. There are about 28 full size castings although they were not all made during Rodin’s lifetime. There are also several version in plaster and other castings.

Fountain Dada Art Marcel Duchamp 1917 Porcelain Urinal Lost -First of its kind to defy what was considered “art” – called a Readymade -Signed “R. Mutt” (but really it was Duchamp) -The original piece was lost. -(Left) A photograph of the original by photographer Alfred Stieglitz.

Bird in Space 20 th Century Art Constantin Brancusi Polished Brass 59 7/16” high including base Guggenheim Museum New York City, New York, USA -His focus was on making things simple. -Communicates the notion of flight itself rather than describing the appearance of a particular bird.

Duck 20 th Century Art Alexander Calder 1909 Brass Sheet 1.75 x.25 x 2” Calder Foundation, New York -First kinetic sculpture of Calder. It rocks back and forth.

Aztec Josephine Baker 20 th Century Art Alexander Calder 1929 Wire 53 x 10 x 9” Calder Foundation, New York Calder’s exploration of wire is transitioning to more kinetic works and will later develop into his more famous, “mobiles.”

Cone d'ebene 20 th Century Art Alexander Calder 1933 Wood, Wire, rod and paint. 106 x 55 x 24” Calder Foundation, New York Calder’s first “mobile.”

Three Men Walking II 20 th Century Art Alberto Giacometti 1949 Painted Bronze Sculpture 30 1/8 x 13 x 12.75” Metropolitan Museum of Art New York City, New York, USA Categorized by height, and surface quality, Giacometti expresses genuine human emotion. He work typically revolves around the horrors of World War II or alienation of urban life.

Standing Woman 20 th Century Art Alberto Giacometti c Bronze 46.5 x 8.25 x 11 1/8” National Gallery of Art Washington, D.C. -Elongated figure -Slanted base -Tortured Texture

Spiral Jetty 20 th Century Art Robert Smithson 1970 Mud, Precipitated salt crystals, rocks & water 15 x 1500 ft. Rozel Point, Great Salt Lake, Utah -Earthenwork consisting of a counterclockwise coil jutting from the shore of the lake. -The sculpture is often visible then submerged then visible again depending on the water level. -Construction took six days. -As of July 2013, the jetty is visible again.

Sky Cathedral 20 th Century Art Louise Nevelson 1958 Painted Wood 11’3.5” x 10’.25” x 18” Museum of Modern Art New York City, New York, USA -Nevelson’s first wall piece. -Each compartment filled with wooden scraps including moldings, dowels, spindles, and furniture parts. -Black paint was used to unify the work and obscure individual objects. -LOVES the color black.

Folded Square Alphabet O Post-Modern Art Fletcher Benton 1979 Steel 97” x 78” x 99” San Francisco Museum of Modern Art San Francisco, California, USA -From The Folded Square series

Folded Square Numerical 2 Post-Modern Art Fletcher Benton 2004 Painted Steel No. 1 of Edition: x 12 x 12” Modernism Gallery -From The Alphabet Series and New Works -Created 25 years after first Alphabet works.

Bronze Head from Ife African Art Yoruba People 12 th century AD Bronze 35 cm high British Museum, London -Realism & craftsmanship of the object challenged Western (Europe) preconceptions of African art at the time. -The head is thought to be the portrait of a ruler known as Ooni (Oni), who ruled circa 800 AD. These bronze heads are proof of trade as there was very little cooper in Nigeria. Ife is considered by the Yoruba people to be the place where their gods created mankind.

Lakisi Initiation Mask African Art 19 th century This mask is used in ceremonies that mark a boy ’ s passage from boyhood to manhood. Dancers would wear these carved wooden masks in a ceremony that would focus on building a strong identity for the young man they celebrated. The mask you see is one of a very few original masks that have survived today. These masks are now rarely carved.

Hannya Mask Traditional Japanese Theatre Mask Oldest mask is dated Most famous of the Japanese Noh Masks. The mask expresses the fury of a woman turned demon through jealousy and anger who revenges by attacking. It is the ghost spirit of an ordinary woman.