AP Art History Introduction Flashcards
Who was Katsushika Hokusai and explain the effects of his painting as well as a description of it itself.
Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese painter (1760-1849) who created a painting called “Maple Leaves on the River” by dipping a chicken’s feet into red paint and letting it run all over a sheet of paper with blue paint. It was not a realistic interpretation of a river but was symbolic of the sensation of a river itself.
How did the Egyptians use the river as a symbolic subject matter for art and explain it’s usage in the painting on Nespawershefi’s coffin.
In 10th Century BCE the Egyptian’s used rivers as a expression of religion and the need for survival. The Nile was crucial for survival since every time it would flood it would help grow the crops. As well as the religious expression through the Sun God Re. In order for the sun to rise on Earth the Sun God Re would have to make his journey across the celestial ocean in the day and through the underworld in the night. In order to achieve this he would have to beat his enemy, a serpent named Apophis. The painter used the river as a way to express religious beliefs and a happy life after death.
Who is Frederic Edwin Church and describe the paintings he did.
Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900) was an American Landscape painter. A well known piece of his is the piece Niagara (1857), a dramatic piece that makes it seem as though the viewer in inside or on the edge of the water.
What did the Niagara painting done by Frederic Edwin Church signify?
The piece’s signified the national pride of America in the 19th century as the New American Republic slowly began to expand as well as have ambitions for expansion. More so, the piece represents religious significance because often during that time period, nature represented a presence of God. In addition these landscape pieces were also mainly created to educate and entertain the audience.
Who was Louise Nevelson and what was a significant piece that she created?
Louise Nevelson (1899-1988) created a piece called the White Vertical Waterfall, which was an abstract piece using white three dimensional rectangles that popped out as well as other organic geometric shapes. The curves and shapes of this piece represent the white froth of the waterfall and the fish swimming through it. This piece forces the viewer to take a closer look in order to realize that it is a waterfall.
Describe how labels and stereotypes reflect cultural influences throughout art.
(Not Important But Here) Art communicates an idea or an expression of feelings and can be created with any range of materials. - An example of how labels and stereotypes reflect cultural influences throughout art can be how the Western World denoted cultural art outside of itself as “The Primitive Arts”, this mainly consisted of the Pacific Island and Northern Africa because they were not of material for “high” or “fine” arts from Europe. Another example of this is that during the time period of the Renaissance, painting and sculptural work were denoted as “fine art” unlike craft work such as ceramics and furniture due to it’s lesser cost in materials. However, each culture in itself have different meanings of value in terms of higher forms of art, for example Peru highly values wool work in art and China valued calligraphy.
What is Fine art and an example of a piece?
“Fine Art” is a form of art that tends to be made from more expensive materials, these pieces are created with great skill and a vast creative imagination in order to create a sensation of pleasure visually. Agonolio Bronzino’s art piece Eleanora of Toledo and her son Giovanni is an example of fine art. Which was created for his patron, the husband of Eleanora of Toledo. In which in this piece we can see great detail throughout the texture of her dress, her complexion as well as in her son’s face, etc.
What is Graphic Art and an example of it?
Graphic art is art the can be replicated many times over and over again. Because of this graphic art is often seen as of lesser value or of lesser accomplishment compared to Fine Art. However, Graphic Art does have the advantage of being able to access a wider audience. An example of Graphic Art is the FedEx Logo, which it’s purpose was to access a wider audience and sell it’s services internationally.
Does Graphic Art take less work than Fine Art?
Not necessarily, while the portrait that Bronzino created did take great skill and effort so did the FedEx logo, since they had to go over 200 concepts as well as hold many concepts etc.
Describe El Anatsui’s piece “Old Man” and it’s purpose.
El Anatsui’s piece “Old Man” is an abstract piece that reflects how cultural influences art around us. The piece is made out of liquor bottle caps to symbolize the history of how the Western World traded alcohol for African goods, while at the same time it’s design suggests the enduring power and the fragility of Ghanaian Culture.
Where does the word Museum come from and describe important museums from across the world.
The word museum derives from the word “mouseion” which means a temple dedicated to art and sciences. Such as the Museion of Alexandria in Egypt which was established 2,400 years ago and still showcases and collects art today. Another important museum is the Louvre which was originally a personal collection for Louis VI, a fortress, and a palace. The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts is another important museum, it was the first museum as well as was an art school in America. Overtime more and more American art museums began popping up replicating the models of European museums.
What is a Neoclassical style?
Neoclassical style is where there are symmetrical forms that represent democratic ideals from Ancient Greece and Rome derived from the Classical Architecture style.
Where are many important art pieces found other than museums, describe an example of a piece.
Many other art pieces are found in religious and communal spaces. An example of this is the piece the Virgin of Guadalupe, legend says that the Virgin imprinted her image into a peasant’s cloak made out of cactus fiber which then became a symbol for the Mexican and devout Catholics. It is today in the National Basilika of St. Mary of Guadalupe.
What the term “In Situ” mean?
The location for which it was originally made.
What is an example of a work that is “In Situ” today?
An example of a work that is still “In Situ” today is Simon Rodia’s known today as the Watt Tower’s but originally named Nuestro Pueblo meaning “Our Town.” Created from 1921-1954 the piece is a series of seventeen interconnected structures. The piece is made out of materials that the local people brought to him. And while originally the piece was disapproved by the people and city of Los Angeles and was almost taken down, it still stands today and is now a Historical Landmark and recognized internationally.
What does Rodia’s work show?
That art can be made from anything and from anywhere and that humans naturally have as much of a drive to create art as they do for sleeping and eating.
