1. Communicating our ideas about individuals & human nature
The Human Figure in Art
Communicating our ideas about individuals & human nature

2. How to structure your notes:
Title page 1 “Elements of Art”
Skip 1 page
Title page 3 “Principles of Art”
Title page 5 with today’s lecture subject
“The Human Figure in Art” and write down all other vocabulary/discussed ideas

3. Through art, different cultures communicate their ideas of the individual & humanity
Andrew Wyeth, Christina's World, c What is going on in this picture? What is she doing?

4. What do you think the artist was trying to say about humanity here?
Discobolos (disc thrower) c. 450 BC. Marble Roman

5. Idealized Humanity & Body:
Shows humanity and the body at its best
IMPORTANT! Different cultures have different ideas about what is a perfect body and why.

6. Akuaba Figure, Ghana (Africa): exaggerates the ideal of high, oval foreheads; delicate mouth; fat necks
Foreheads of infants are frequently messaged to be that way in real life. Fat necks were a sign of wealth and health.

7. Venus Before the Mirror. Peter Paul Ruben. Europe,1615
Full figures represented wealth & luxury and were therefore beautiful.

8. Japanese Anime: list what you think they might consider beautiful in this culture!
Ideal is blonde, wild hair, light eyes, large heads, childlike expression

9. What is being communicated here?
The Last Judgement by Gislebertus, ca France

10. Less than Perfect Humanity
Humanity is imperfect
Should strive toward perfection

11. What about here?

12. Self & Surroundings: How we create images of bodies to express larger ideas & inner emotions
What could THIS be about?

13. Body Alteration: Maori Tattoo
Line: element of art
Maori tribe in New Zealand thought of facial tattoos as a sign of authority and power.

14. Our Figure Drawing Project:
Uses 2 artists as inspiration who use the human figure in their artwork but in completely different ways.
Combines several elements & principles of design together.

15. Figure Drawing: uses the human form as the main subject matter

16. Henri Matisse
French artist best known for his bright paintings
His paintings had many flat shapes, outlines and expressive colors (non-realistic)

19. Shape: (element) area closed off by a line

21. Pattern: (principle) repeated elements to increase surface texture

22. Picasso 1881-1973 Spanish painter best known for inventing “Cubism”
Could paint VERY realistically & also expressively
Paintings had flat shapes and natural colors
Self portrait

23. Contour Line: (element) outside edge of an object

24. Cubism: Invented mostly by Pablo Picasso
Parts of objects & the figure are broken up and investigated individually
Influenced by African Masks

25. Picasso’s artwork

26. Value: (element) how light or dark something is

27. Rhythm: (principle) repetition and variety of elements

28. Wrap up questions
Artists haven’t been using images of the body for very long in history. T or F
When we make art that incorporates the physical body, we can communicate our ideas of humanity. T or F
Artists make art that is about and for their cultures. T or F
Artists are not influenced by anything outside of themselves. T or F

29. Answers
FALSE: Artists HAVE been using images of the body for very long in history.
TRUE: When we make art that incorporates the physical body, we can communicate our ideas of humanity.
TRUE: Artists make art that is about and for their cultures.
FALSE: Artists ARE influenced by anything outside of themselves.