Looking at Art 5 steps for talking about artwork

#1. Describe Look at the artwork and LIST 15 things that you see. The list can be made up of objects, parts of objects, colours & shapes.

#2. Analyse Now look at the artwork as a space that has things placed in it. In three full sentences (or five short sentences - your choice) tell HOW things in the artwork are placed. Try to examine relationships between things (objects, shapes, colour, etc.) in the painting. Be as descriptive as possible.

#3. Interpret Write three sentences that explain what you think the artwork is about. Support your ideas with reasons/evidence (use the word ‘because’). Sometimes you may have more than one idea about the possible meaning of the artwork.

#4. Information Give at least five pieces of information about the artwork. You may remember information from a class talk or you may have to do your own research. Always take notes during a class talk*. (*This is all part of your 10% Perceiving & Responding…..)

#4. Information 1. This painting was created by Jaques Louis David in David was a French neo-classical painter. 3. This painting is considered as an important political artwork about the French Revolution. 4. Neo-classical painters were strongly influenced by the works of the Greeks & Romans (‘classical’), the attention to detail and the focus on drapery are characteristic of this style. 5. This painting was created as a tribute to Marat, a French revolutionary, as was an effective piece of propaganda.

#5. Judgement There are two questions you have to answer here: #1. Is the artwork good (quality)? #2. Does it appeal to you (personal aesthetic)?

Maude Lewis Horse Pulling Logs

Kandinsky Composition VII/WWI

The Starry Night Vincent Van Gogh

The Birth of Venus Sandro Botticelli

The Scream Edvard Munch

Nighthawks Edward Hopper

Migrant Mother Dorothea Lange