Artworks (sem 2) Flashcards
For what movement and in what year was ‘Fountain’ created? By who?
Fountain was made by Marcel Duchamp in 1917 and is part of the Dadaism movement
Describe ‘Fountain’ by Marcel Duchamp
A men’s urinal on the floor with a fake signature on it
Why did Duchamp choose a urinal for ‘Fountain’?
Marcel Duchamp deliberately chose a urinal as one of his “ready-made” pieces randomly to question our definition of art
In what way does “Fountain” adhere to Dadaism?
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
For what movement and in what year was “No. 5” created? By who?
No. 5 was made by Mark Rothko in 1950 and is part of the Abstract Expressionism movement
What kind of painter was Mark Rothko?
A colour field painter
Describe ‘No. 5’ by Mark Rothko
A yellow field of colour and a darker field of orange, sandwiching a strip of red in the middle. Oil on canvas.
What was the purpose of Rothko’s art?
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
What separates ‘No. 5’ from Rothko’s other works?
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
For what movement and in what year was ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’ created? By who?
Harlequin’s Carnival was made by Joan Miro in 1924 and is part of the Surrealism movement
Describe ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’ by Joan Miro
A surrealist interpretation of Harlequin surrounded by bizarre characters in Miro’s studio. Oil on canvas.
What contributed to the imagery of ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’?
Miro starved himself to the point of hallucination to tap into his subconscious mind and draw out the otherworldly characters in the painting
How is the composition of ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’ structured? What effect does this have on the viewer?
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
How does Miro represent himself in ‘Harlequin’s Carnival’?
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
For what movement and in what year was ‘Whamm!!’ created? By who?
Whamm!!was made by Roy Lichtenstein in 1963 and is part of the Pop Art movement
Describe ‘Whamm!!’ by Roy Lichtenstein
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.
How does ‘Whamm!!’ reflect the Pop Art movement and Lichtenstein’s unique style?
The painting incorporates commercial imagery through comic book techniques – Ben-Day dots and flat colour, elevating the style to fine art
What does the imagery in ‘Whamm!!’ symbolize? How?
‘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
For what movement and in what year was ‘Composition No. 2’ created? By who?
Composition No.2 was made by Vasily Kandinsky in 1910 and is part of the Der Blaue Reiter movement.
Describe ‘Composition No.2 ‘ by Vasily Kandinsky
A blend of geometric shapes and organic forms in bright multi-colour
What themes are explored in ‘Composition No. 2’?
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
How does ‘Composition No.2’ fit into the Der Blaue Reiter movement?
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
For what movement and in what year was ‘Female Artist’ created? By who?
‘Female Artist’ was made by Ernst Kirchner in 1910 and is part of the Die Brucke movement
Describe ‘Female Artist’ by Ernst Kirchner
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.
What elements of Die Brucke are present in the painting ‘Female Artist’?
Expressionist brush strokes, the subject matter of urban life, a vivid colour palette, and prioritising the artist’s perspective over reality
How is mood conveyed in ‘Female Artist’?
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
For what movement and in what year was ‘Three Musicians’ created? By who?
‘Three Musicians’ was made by Pablo Picasso in 1921 and is part of the Cubism movement
Describe ‘Three Musicians’ by Pablo Picasso
Three musicians (A harlequin, a monk, and a guitarist) constructed from geometric shapes and interlocking planes in a warm colour palette. Oil on canvas.
In what way is ‘Three Musicians’ a Cubist piece?
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
What themes are communicated in ‘Three Musicians’? How does the artwork communicate the themes?
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
For what movement and in what year was ‘Woman with a Shawl’ created? By who?
‘Woman with a Shawl’ was made by André Derain in 1905 and is part of the Fauvism movement
Describe ‘Woman with a Shawl’ by André Derain
A vibrantly coloured female figure, draped in a richly patterned shawl, rendered with bold brushstrokes and simplified forms. Oil on canvas.
How does ‘Woman with a Shawl’ adhere to Fauvism?
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
What emotional quality does Derain convey through his use of colour in ‘Woman with a Shawl’?
A sense of warmth and intimacy, evoking feelings of comfort and allure
For what studio and in what year was ‘Two Friends’ created? By who?
‘Two Friends’ was made by Allina Ndebele in 2000 in Rorke’s Drift
Describe ‘Two Friends’ by Allina Ndebele
A woven tapestry featuring two people surrounded by huts and other villagers, all in bright colours.
How does Ndebele’s use of colour impact ‘Two Friends’?
Bright & bold; emphasises central figures & adds visual interest. The use of bright colours also contributes to the happy mood of the tapestry
How does Ndebele use space in ‘Two Friends’?
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
For what studio and in what year was ‘Township Scene’ created? By who?
‘Township Scene’ was made by Louis Maqhubela in 1961 in Polly Street
Describe ‘Township Scene’ by Louis Maqhubela
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
What themes are explored in ‘Township Scene’?
Community life, social interactions, and the resilience of township residents under the Apartheid system
How does Maqhubela convey energy in ‘Township Scene’?
Through dynamic composition and expressive figures that depict movement and interaction among the characters
How is colour used in ‘Township Scene’?
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
Name a painting and its artist from the Early 20th-century South African art section, and describe it.
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)
Name a work by Jackson Pollock and describe it. (Extra for abstract expressionism, don’t need to do.)
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.
What is an action painter?
Part of the abstract expressionism movement - manifesting the subconscious mind into physical actions. Influenced heavily by the surrealism movement.
