Artworks (sem 2)

Question 1

For what movement and in what year was ‘Fountain’ created? By who?

Answer 1

Fountain was made by Marcel Duchamp in 1917 and is part of the Dadaism movement

Question 2

Describe ‘Fountain’ by Marcel Duchamp

Answer 2

A men’s urinal on the floor with a fake signature on it

Question 3

Why did Duchamp choose a urinal for ‘Fountain’?

Answer 3

Marcel Duchamp deliberately chose a urinal as one of his “ready-made” pieces randomly to question our definition of art

Question 4

In what way does “Fountain” adhere to Dadaism?

Answer 4

The piece neither applies nor can be described with any of the elements of art, has no aesthetic value, can be effortlessly recreated, and already existed before Duchamp found it and labelled it as art – going against the values of fine art

Question 5

For what movement and in what year was “No. 5” created? By who?

Answer 5

No. 5 was made by Mark Rothko in 1950 and is part of the Abstract Expressionism movement

Question 6

What kind of painter was Mark Rothko?

Answer 6

A colour field painter

Question 7

Describe ‘No. 5’ by Mark Rothko

Answer 7

A yellow field of colour and a darker field of orange, sandwiching a strip of red in the middle. Oil on canvas.

Question 8

What was the purpose of Rothko’s art?

Answer 8

To force the viewer to contemplate colour relationships and take the viewer away from reality, supposedly overwhelming them. Rothko also intended for a spiritual reaction from his audience

Question 9

What separates ‘No. 5’ from Rothko’s other works?

Answer 9

Gauging the paint’s surface before it dried, created strained, horizontal lines across the canvas. These lines served to contrast the soft outlines of lighter yellow around the edges of the canvas

Question 10

For what movement and in what year was ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’ created? By who?

Answer 10

Harlequin’s Carnival was made by Joan Miro in 1924 and is part of the Surrealism movement

Question 11

Describe ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’ by Joan Miro

Answer 11

A surrealist interpretation of Harlequin surrounded by bizarre characters in Miro’s studio. Oil on canvas.

Question 12

What contributed to the imagery of ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’?

Answer 12

Miro starved himself to the point of hallucination to tap into his subconscious mind and draw out the otherworldly characters in the painting

Question 13

How is the composition of ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’ structured? What effect does this have on the viewer?

Answer 13

The composition is dynamic and asymmetrical, with elements scattered throughout the canvas. This creates a sense of movement and energy, drawing the viewer’s eye around the painting and evoking a feeling of chaos and celebration. The feeling of celebration relates to the piece’s title of Carnival

Question 14

How does Miro represent himself in ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’?

Answer 14

As Harlequin. With a brush in hand and a pipe in his mouth, as well as having a hole where his stomach would be, representing Miro’s poverty at the time as well as his starving himself to draw out his subconscious

Question 15

For what movement and in what year was ‘Whamm!!’ created? By who?

Answer 15

Whamm!!was made by Roy Lichtenstein in 1963 and is part of the Pop Art movement

Question 16

Describe ‘Whamm!!’ by Roy Lichtenstein

Answer 16

A fighter aircraft in the left panel fires a rocket into an enemy plane in the right panel, resulting in a red-and-yellow explosion. Oil, acrylic and magna on canvas.

Question 17

How does ‘Whamm!!’ reflect the Pop Art movement and Lichtenstein’s unique style?

Answer 17

The painting incorporates commercial imagery through comic book techniques – Ben-Day dots and flat colour, elevating the style to fine art

Question 18

What does the imagery in ‘Whamm!!’ symbolize? How?

Answer 18

‘Whamm!!’ is a commentary on the glorification of war. The comic book style distances the viewer from war, likening it to that of superhero fiction

Question 19

For what movement and in what year was ‘Composition No. 2’ created? By who?

Answer 19

Composition No.2 was made by Vasily Kandinsky in 1910 and is part of the Der Blaue Reiter movement.

Question 20

Describe ‘Composition No.2 ‘ by Vasily Kandinsky

Answer 20

A blend of geometric shapes and organic forms in bright multi-colour

Question 21

What themes are explored in ‘Composition No. 2’?

Answer 21

The painting explores themes of spirituality and emotion connecting art and music (hence the word composition being used). The piece reflects Kandinsky’s belief in the transformative power of the abstract

Question 22

How does ‘Composition No.2’ fit into the Der Blaue Reiter movement?

Answer 22

The movement focuses on abstract forms that evoke emotion rather than depicting reality.
The symbolic power of colour can be seen in the work, which is a key part of Der Blaue Reiter, and also ties in themes of spirituality and individualism.
Connecting music to art is another key theme of the movement and is referenced in the title

Question 23

For what movement and in what year was ‘Female Artist’ created? By who?

Answer 23

‘Female Artist’ was made by Ernst Kirchner in 1910 and is part of the Die Brucke movement

Question 24

Describe ‘Female Artist’ by Ernst Kirchner

Answer 24

A woman in a striped dress lying on a green couch next to a cat, depicted in bold colours and with expressive brushwork. Oil on canvas.

Question 25

What elements of Die Brucke are present in the painting ‘Female Artist’?

Answer 25

Expressionist brush strokes, the subject matter of urban life, a vivid colour palette, and prioritising the artist’s perspective over reality

Question 26

How is mood conveyed in ‘Female Artist’?

Answer 26

Most of the colours of the painting are greens and a single blue for one of the background walls. This matches the figure’s unhappy or tired facial expression in creating a low mood

Question 27

For what movement and in what year was ‘Three Musicians’ created? By who?

Answer 27

‘Three Musicians’ was made by Pablo Picasso in 1921 and is part of the Cubism movement

Question 28

Describe ‘Three Musicians’ by Pablo Picasso

Answer 28

Three musicians (A harlequin, a monk, and a guitarist) constructed from geometric shapes and interlocking planes in a warm colour palette. Oil on canvas.

Question 29

In what way is ‘Three Musicians’ a Cubist piece?

Answer 29

The figures are depicted using geometric shapes and overlapping planes, characteristic of Cubism. This style breaks down the forms into flat, interlocking sections, emphasizing the two-dimensionality of the canvas

Question 30

What themes are communicated in ‘Three Musicians’? How does the artwork communicate the themes?

Answer 30

The warm colour palette of yellows, browns, and greens reflects the theme of the joy of music and artistic collaboration. Picasso also communicates this through geometric shapes and interlocking planes

Question 31

For what movement and in what year was ‘Woman with a Shawl’ created? By who?

Answer 31

‘Woman with a Shawl’ was made by André Derain in 1905 and is part of the Fauvism movement

Question 32

Describe ‘Woman with a Shawl’ by André Derain

Answer 32

A vibrantly coloured female figure, draped in a richly patterned shawl, rendered with bold brushstrokes and simplified forms. Oil on canvas.

Question 33

How does ‘Woman with a Shawl’ adhere to Fauvism?

Answer 33

The piece adheres to Fauvism through its use of vibrant, non-naturalistic colours that prioritize emotional expression over realistic representation, loose brushwork, simplified forms, and emphasis on the artist’s subjective experience which are all characteristic of the Fauvist approach

Question 34

What emotional quality does Derain convey through his use of colour in ‘Woman with a Shawl’?

Answer 34

A sense of warmth and intimacy, evoking feelings of comfort and allure

Question 35

For what studio and in what year was ‘Two Friends’ created? By who?

Answer 35

‘Two Friends’ was made by Allina Ndebele in 2000 in Rorke’s Drift

Question 36

Describe ‘Two Friends’ by Allina Ndebele

Answer 36

A woven tapestry featuring two people surrounded by huts and other villagers, all in bright colours.

Question 37

How does Ndebele’s use of colour impact ‘Two Friends’?

Answer 37

Bright & bold; emphasises central figures & adds visual interest. The use of bright colours also contributes to the happy mood of the tapestry

Question 38

How does Ndebele use space in ‘Two Friends’?

Answer 38

She leaves little leftover space, making the tapestry feel full & busy upon viewing it. This ties into the themes of community and harmony in the artwork

Question 39

For what studio and in what year was ‘Township Scene’ created? By who?

Answer 39

‘Township Scene’ was made by Louis Maqhubela in 1961 in Polly Street

Question 40

Describe ‘Township Scene’ by Louis Maqhubela

Answer 40

A vivid depiction of the bustling life of a South African township, featuring expressive figures engaged in daily activities against a backdrop of vibrant colours that reflect the community’s spirit

Question 41

What themes are explored in ‘Township Scene’?

Answer 41

Community life, social interactions, and the resilience of township residents under the Apartheid system

Question 42

How does Maqhubela convey energy in ‘Township Scene’?

Answer 42

Through dynamic composition and expressive figures that depict movement and interaction among the characters

Question 43

How is colour used in ‘Township Scene’?

Answer 43

Bright colours such as bright reds, yellows, and blues are used to evoke the lively atmosphere of township life and create a sense of energy, drawing attention to the figures and their interactions. The contrasting colours also help to define the characters and their surroundings

Question 44

Name a painting and its artist from the Early 20th-century South African art section, and describe it.

Answer 44

Walter Battis’s ‘Symbols of Life,’ 1957. Oil on canvas. Against a cream background, seemingly random and organic rust red figures are scattered across the canvas, filling up mot available space. Across the centre, there is a chasm of brown, with dark brown geometric shapes on it.
- Tells the story of the river and the life it sustains
- ‘Earthy’ tones
- river can represent life or blood (death)

Question 45

Name a work by Jackson Pollock and describe it. (Extra for abstract expressionism, don’t need to do.)

Answer 45

Full Fathom Five, 1947. Consists of a number of various bits and bobs like coins, tacks , buttons, cigarettes etc, with oil paint, on canvas.
- A wild and un-analysable work. Just consists of line/colour/space.
- A good example of a painting by an action painter.
- Used industrial paint
- Put massive canvas on the floor
- ‘Action’ was more important than result.

Question 46

What is an action painter?

Answer 46

Part of the abstract expressionism movement - manifesting the subconscious mind into physical actions. Influenced heavily by the surrealism movement.