“Mini” Art Lecture GOALS:

1. “Mini” Art LectureGOALS: • NOT memorizing names, dates, specific works (though that never hurts) • Recognize attributes of art works that identify it as a certain style/movement or as created by a specific artist • WHY? So that the next time you visit an art museum you actually have something to do • (ask lots of questions)

2. Introduction to Art Lecture One: OK, so what is it?

3. What is Art? • Unique to humans - the sharing of one’s imagination • Aesthetics • The branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty • Visual Communication • Impossible to define - it can only be described • The continuum of abstraction –> –> –>

4. Representational Totally Abstract Abstraction La Jaconde (“Mona Lisa”) Leonardo da Vinci (1503) Woman in an Armchair Pablo Picasso (1941)

5. Number 1A - Jackson Pollock (1948) •context is everything

6. Why is Art? • Communication • like poetry, it’s rules are flexible • To understand ourselves and our universe • For the artist, it’s like sharing a good joke • The “Cool Factor” Self Portrait Paul Cezanne (1879-82)

7. Starry Night – Vincent van Gogh (1889) • emotion and color

8. Number 1A - Jackson Pollock (1948) •context is everything

9. What is Good Art? “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.”

10. What is Good Art? “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.” Really means: “I like what I know.”

11. What is Good Art? “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.” Auguste Rodin (1886) Constantin Brancusi (1912)

12. What is Good Art? “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.” • Art vs. Craft • Craft is predictable, it takes aptitude, it attempts the possible • Art is unpredictable, it takes talent, and attempts the impossible (Michael Jordan?) • Form and Content (both are essential!) • Form: What does it look like? • Content: What does it mean? (not Jordan) • What is a Masterpiece? • the test of time • does it move people?

13. Michelangelo David - 1501-04

14. An acknowledged masterpiece • “Nude” vs. “Naked” Michelangelo David - 1501-04

15. Rembrandt van Rijn Self-portraits – Another acknowledged master Age 34 - 1640 Age 54 - 1660

16. Why Look at Art? • You will relate to it if you allow yourself • Historical artifact • Escapism • Layers of meaning (CONTENT) –> –>

17. Jan Vermeer Woman Holding Scales (1665)

18. Jan Vermeer Artist in His Studio aka Allegory of the Art of Painting aka Allegory of Fame (1665)

19. How Should I look at Art? • Approach with an open mind • Allow yourself to get into it • Give the artist the benefit of the doubt • Try to see the work in the context in which it was created / the artist’s motives • Art History helps here • Ask yourself WHY the elements look the way they do • Then, and ONLY then, you can judge its quality

20. So: • Look at the work • Try to understand the work • Analyze it’s form and content (if any) • Then judge from a position of knowledge and not preference

21. The Last Supper Leonardo da Vinci (1495-98) Andy Warhol Marilyn (1964)

22. The Last Supper Leonardo da Vinci (1495-98) Andy Warhol Marilyn (1964)

23. now you know