Survey of Art/ Fran Bahr
PAPER #2: ANALYSIS THROUGH COMPARISON CONTRAST
LENGTH: 4 pages, 1.5 or 2 line spaced, typed
OBJECTIVE
Now that you are familiar with the elements of art and the design principles and have seen a good deal of art through time, you will further develop your skills by
• *Comparing or contrasting two pieces of art in the same genre, i.e. two sculptures, two paintings, two drawings, two pieces of architecture (public buildings in your local community), etc.
• OR….by comparing or contrasting two works of different genres which address the same theme: i.e. love, hate, war, politics, etc.
*(Compare means to show how they are alike; contrast means to show how they are different. It is usually easiest to choose either all comparisons or all contrasts in your paper.)
PROCESS:
Instead of choosing your art from any source, be sure to choose art objects considered to be world famous works (unless you decide to compare two pieces of local architecture). Remember than you can go to famous museums such as the Guggenheim or the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York. Then you will choose THREE PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN on which to compare these works. If you prefer realism, then choose abstract or non-representational works and visa versa.
1. Find the pieces you plan to use.
2. Review the principles of design (unity and variety, balance, emphasis and subordination, scale and proportion, rhythm
3. Make notes on the visual elements (line, shape and mass, light and value, color, texture and pattern, space, time, and motion)
4. Decide which design principles you will compare or contrast.
5. Find biographical material about both artists
6. Write your analysis
ORGANIZATION
1. Introduction:
As in other essays, your first paragraph serves as your introduction. This section should identify the title of the painting, the artist, what year the painting was created, and where the painting is located. You should also introduce your thesis in this paragraph. Your thesis will be more successful if you choose one piece over the other as more successful, less successful, etc. In other words, have a point to make in your thesis.
2. Artist Biography #1 and #2:
Do a little research on the artists. Look for information that provides the basic facts. It will usually explain what the artists are trying to achieve. DO NOT COPY/PASTE the information into your paper. More than three words in a row from the original will be tagged by the plagiarism software. Since some of this work is by local artists, you might even be able to interview them.
3. Description of Works #1 and #2:
This section should carefully describe the form used (materials, the size, etc.) and then describe the content (what the work looks like and what it’s about) of the works. Be somewhat brief as you will discuss the works in more detail later
.
4. Analysis of the Works (three well-developed paragraphs or six shorter ones):
1. Comparison # 1 (i.e. unity and variety)
A. Work #1 achieves unity by blah, blah, blah and variety by blah, blah, blah
B. Work #2 is better at unity because blah, blah, blah
2. Comparison #2 (i.e. scale and proportion)
A. Work #1 does blah, blah, blah.
B. Work #2 is better cause it does blah, blah, blah
3. Comparison #3 (i.e. rhythm)
A. Work #1 does blah, blah, blah.
B. Work #2 is better cause it does blah, blah, blah
5. Response and Conclusion:
Conclude your paper by interpreting the works or by explaining and defending your overall reactions.
Example of how to begin your project:
William de Kooning. Woman IV. 1952-53. Oil, enamel and charcoal on canvas. 58 ½ x 45 ½. Nelson Atkins The Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri
Alice Neel. Self Portrait. 1980. Oil on canvas. 4’6” x 3’4”. National Portrait Gallery. Smithsonian Institution. Washington, D.C.
Gut Reaction. Are these two images more similar or more different?
Similarities: (these can be mentioned briefly in the introduction)
•
Differences: (these will make up the bulk of your paper)
•
Make notes on elements. Go to page 75. These will help you understand the piece.
• Line
• Shape
• Light
• Value
• color
• Texture and pattern
• Space
Go to page 113 for to think about design principles (Choose 3)
• Unity and variety
• balance,
• emphasis and subordination,
• scale and proportion,
• rhythm
Outline
Woman IV (italics for titles) by Willian de Kooning (1952-53) and Self Portrait by Alice Neel (1980) could not seem more different, yet they do share some important qualities. Both are portraits of women, although de Kooning’s image seems to be a young, startlingly dressed woman while Neel’s is a self-portrait of her naked elderly body. In addition, both paintings are oils and similarly sized, 58”x 45” and 54”x40”. However, the similarities stop there. In terms of scale and proportion, unity and variety and rhythm, deKooning’s image is far more interesting than Neel’s. (thesis)
A paragraph on the background of each artist would be good here.
Scale and proportion can make an image seem normal or offbeat.
Neal’s image is predictably sized and seems correctly drawn. (Go into detail)
deKooning’s woman is scattered across the picture plane and parts of her anatomy seem overemphasized. (Go into detail)
Unity and variety are handled quite differently by the two artists.
Neal’s portrait is unified by…color and line. But her use of…. (details)
De Kooning use of variety almost overpowers the unifying elements of line and color but somehow it hangs together. (details)
Rhythm is the most interesting difference between the two artists.
Neal
deKooning
Conclusion……..
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