Question

2.3 art criticism and art history
fig. 1 from circle to sphere to apple... photo ©2010 marion boddy - evans. licensed to about.com, inc.
form and shape words
think about the overall shapes in the artwork and the way forms (things) are depicted. what sense of depth and volume is there?

• 2d, flat, abstracted, simplified, stylized.
• 3d, realistic, natural, sense of depth and space.
• sharp, detailed.
• blurred, obscured, overlapping, indistinct.
• distorted, exaggerated, geometric.
• linear, long, narrow.
• hard - edged, soft - edged.

lighting words
look at the lighting in the painting, not only in terms of the direction it is coming from and how it creates shadows but also its color, how intense it is, the mood it creates, whether it is natural (from the sun) or artificial (from a light, fire, or candle). dont forget the option the artist has for not including a light source at all, particularly in modern styles.

• back lit, front lit, side lit, top lit, indirect light, dim, faint, gentle, gloomy, low, minimal, muted, soft, clear, brilliant, bright, glowing, fiery, harsh, intense, sharp.
• cool, blue, grey. warm, yellow, red.

directions: write an analyzing sentence for each artwork. use this type of format to complete your state - ment for each artwork: the artists use of ____ (insert element here) is ____ (descriptive word here) because...
fig. 1:

fig. 2:

art history a
fig. 2 woman in blue reading a letter (about 1663 - 64) vermeers ©j. paul getty trust

Explanation:

For Fig. 1, we can focus on form and shape. The image shows a transition from circle to sphere to apple. We note the 3D - like appearance of the apple giving a sense of realism and natural form. For Fig. 2, we consider lighting. The painting by Vermeer has a soft, natural - looking light, likely from a window, creating a serene mood.

Answer:

Fig. 1: The artist's use of form is realistic because the apple is depicted with a sense of 3D volume and natural shape.
Fig. 2: The artist's use of lighting is soft and natural because it appears to be coming from a window, creating a serene and gentle mood.