Art in FocusChapter 5: Art HistoryLesson Summaries-EnglishArt criticism and art history both focus on works of art, but from different points of view. You should understand the similarities between these two methods as well as the differences. Lesson 1 Art critics draw information from works of art. In contrast, art historians gather information about works of art and the artists who created them. Art historians use the same four operations as art critics do (description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment), but they ask different questions. They see artworks as visual documents that reflect a society’s ideas. For the first operation, description, an art historian tells when, where, and by whom an artwork was done. Next, for analysis the art historian looks for the unique features that determine the artist’s individual style, or personal way of using the art elements and principles. He or she may also look for a “family resemblance,” which means the style corresponds to a particular art movement. For interpretation, the art historian asks how the artist was influenced by the world around him or her. This step usually requires research into the artist’s life and the period in which the artist worked. Finally, the art historian investigates the work’s historical significance. He or she considers whether the work is a good example of the artist’s fully developed style. Conducting a historical examination of an artwork may uncover important information or a fascinating story that helps you further understand the work. Lesson 2 To carry out the art history operations, you will have to make use of historical resources. The best sources of information are books and articles on art. First, find out who created the work and when and where it was done. To analyze the work, identify its main characteristics and features. Then, based on your research and observations, decide whether it represents a particular style of art. To interpret the work, find out which artists or works inspired the artist and what other influences affected the artist. Then explain whether the work reveals something about the world in which it was painted. Finally, answer the judgment question: Does the artwork have historical importance? To get the most out of a work of art, it is best to begin with aesthetics and the art criticism operations. Once you have completed these operations and made a tentative decision about the work’s success, you can turn to the art history operations. These operations will help you confirm, modify, or even change your initial decision. Then you can make an informed final judgment. |  |
