Below is everything you need to write the essay.
This writing assignment is meant to enhance your understanding of class vocabulary as well as demonstrate your ability to research and form in-depth educated opinions when discussing a work of art.
You will need to visit the Indianapolis Museum of Art/Newfields online collection (link below). Use the “Search the Collection” function to look through the huge selection of artwork. Use the “Refine Results” column on the left to narrow down your search. You need to select one work of art that you find interesting. You may select work because you love it, hate it, want to know more about it, are confused by it, etc. Using the terms from the first few chapters of the book, you will then describe the work in an essay.
Assignment:
Select a work of art that interests you
Write a descriiptive essay: 3-4 pages, 12 point font, up to double spaced
Explore the formal treatment of the elements and principles
Explore any iconography within the work
Address how artistic devices contributed to your understanding of the works meaning or artistic significance
Vocabulary from the first two chapters (realism, abstraction, naturalism, the role of the artist, etc.)
MLA Format – with exceptions: your essay may not need citations or direct quotes, depending on how you approach the writing. If your paper has ZERO citations, you do not need to include a works cited page. If your essay uses any direct quotes, paraphrasing, or summaries you MUST use citations and include a works cited page.
Your Descriiptive Essay should include:
Title page – title your paper with the name of the artwork you have chosen. Make sure to ITALICIZE titles of artwork. Your title page should also include your name, my name, the date, and your class: art appreciation.
Introduction – introduce the artwork you have chosen with a quick attention grabbing overview
Include a THESIS statement (a quick outline of your overall descriiption will work).
Main Body – detailed descriiption of artwork, artist and/or art movement information, then the sensual and emotive descriiption
Descriiption – focus on formal elements and iconography (mostly what we covered in chapters 1-7). This will be a direct descriiption (save the fun stuff for later!)
Artist/movement information – do a little research into the artist and movement the piece belongs to. Do not include an artist biography! Only include details that are important to understanding the artwork you have selected.
For example, if you are talking about Picasso and one of his blue paintings, it would be important to include information about the tragedy in his life that led to his development of the Blue Period.
It may be important to include some information about the art movement the piece belongs to or how the artwork fits into the art world. Research will help you, as each piece is unique.