Sphinx of Hatshepsut

Sphinx of Hatshepsut Your paper will be on ONE artwork from your museum visit and has two parts. The first part is a Visual analysis of the artwork which requires no research. The second part is a Critical Analysis, which requires research. Word count approximately 2,000 words. The document must be attached as a word document. Put your name in the document and in the title of the attachment. Use double space. Include an image of the art work. The rules of good writing count along with content. Note: Artwork titles require italics, not quotation marks. Instructions: Virtually visit a museum and carefully select one work of art from course material you would like to write about. You will be spending a lot of time with this artwork so you should make sure that you have a lot to say about it AND, most importantly that you will be able to find reliable and academic research for your selection. Major museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art have extensive online collections and you should reserve a bit of time to familiarize yourself with the navigation and assorted links, which provide valuable information and research material. You can also visit a museum in your local area but keep in mind that whatever artwork selected, you will need to find academic research on the time period or artwork. Include an image of the artwork and caption it with title, artist, and date (as images are captioned at the website). The caption info is not factored into the word count. In the body of the paper, include the appropriate headings, as for example, when discussing line, the heading should be Line, or when writing Part II, the heading should be Part II: Critical Analysis. Introduction: Introduce the artwork: what does it depict or represent? You are not expected to recognize the story behind the image (if there is one!), but you ought to explain in general terms the scene (?the painting depicts a scene of warfare and violence on a grand scale?). If the work is abstract, describe the abstraction (?The sculpture consists of a series of rounded, organic forms whose shape suggests a reclining female figure?). Then tell us why you selected it. Part I: Visual Analysis Think about the elements listed below. Some formal elements may be more significant than others for each work of art. If you think that an element doesn?t apply in your work, make sure you say so. I want to know that you thought about and evaluated it, rather than just forgot about it. a. Medium (limestone, marble, fresco,etc.) Size (approximately thirteen inches long, roughly three inches in diameter, etc.) Shape: Is this a two-?dimensional or three-dimensional piece? What are the dominant shapes apparent within the work? Are they geometric? Irregular? How are they organized? Do you detect dominant patterns? Are there shapes that appear to recede into space? If it is a three-?dimensional piece (sculpture or artifact): Is it relief sculpture or sculpture in the round? Did the artist compose it to be seen from one primary vantage point, or is it meant to be seen from all sides? Is the sculpture carved or molded? How does the location affect the viewing experience? Light: How does the artist employ effects of light and shading? Does the light appear to come from a single direction? Is the light evenly distributed? Which parts, if any, appear in a strong light? Which parts are in shadow? Color: What are the dominant colors employed by the artist? Be sure to list the colors. Are the colors intense, or are they muted? Does the artist use a wide range of colors, or does he restrict himself/herself to a few? Does the artist create color harmonies through analogous colors, such as red and orange? Does he/she create contrasts through complementary colors, such as red and green? Texture: Is the surface of the object soft or rough (to the best of your knowledge)? What are the tactile qualities of the object (meaning how would it feel to touch its various parts)? Discuss actual texture versus intended/implied texture. Is there an illusion of texture? Is the artist trying to mimic actual texture? Space/Mass: If it is a two-?dimensional work, does the artist draw the viewer?s eye beyond the picture plane and into the distant space of the picture? Is this a deep or shallow space? How is space suggested? If it is a three-?dimensional work, is it large or small? Would you describe the overall effect as sleek, bulky, heavy, light, etc. Line: Is there an emphasis on line? For example, are there sharp diagonals or angles in the work? Are the lines balanced and ordered? Are they agitated? Do they imply directional movement? Does the artist emphasize line? Are the lines broken and lost or clearly defined and distinguished. You can think of line as outlines if no obvious lines are apparent in the work. Part II: Critical Analysis Now, you will turn to critical analysis, which will require research. Research Suggestions: First turn to the museum website links for information (it would be a good idea when selecting an artwork to see if there is associated research or links). Khan Academy is another good online source: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history-basics#. The Course Helpful Resources tab will also provide pertinent links. SPECIAL NOTE: WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE FOR THE PURPOSES OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND IS NOT TO BE USED FOR THIS COURSE.? Images; however, can be retrieved from the website. Formal Theory: What was the style for the time period in which the artist worked (such as Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Gothic, etc.)? Was the artist corresponding to the style of the time period or was he/she doing something different? Fully explain the style of the period and then explain why or why not your artwork example corresponds to the time period.? You should also bring in other artworks from the time period/culture to substantiate your ideas. Contextual Theory: What were the cultural values, and the social, religious and political systems of the time? How were they relevant to your artwork? You must fully explain the relevant contexts with comprehensive analysis. Conclusion: Sum up your experience of examining this artwork. Citations: You are to use both in text citations and provide a Works Cited Page in MLA citation style. A minimum of three academic sources must be used