back to: index Oath of the Horatii Jacques-Louis David oil on canvas 1784-5, French Neoclassicism This image reminds us that images are influencing us today just as they did followers of the Jacobin Party during the French Revolution.

Introduction -Images influence us -Clothing choices are conscious and manipulative -Assumptions about art: "Talent" and "should look like something" Art as Language Semiotics, conceived of by Roman Jakobson, has 6 components: 1. Addressor (artist) 2. Addressee (viewer) 3. Message 4. Code 5. Medium of communication 6. Context Cassatt's Bath using semiotics 1. Addressor "The Artist, Marie Cassatt" 2. Addressee "Viewers of the artwork at various times in history" 3. Message "relationship between mother and child" 4. Code "Traditional Western and Japanese pictorial conventions" 5. Context "1891 painting" 6. Medium "oil painting, 39 1/2" x 26" -Variations of this occur based on environment and time -Contextualism vs. Formalism changes components of communication Formalism and Contextualism in art evaluation -Formalism is the objective evaluation of the elements of a work of art using little or no background infromation. The work must "stand on its own" in terms of composition, color harmonies, etc... -Contextualism is the evaluation of a work's message using a particular point-of-view. It is highly dependent on information about the artist, time period, or reason for the work's existence (commission, etc.), Contextualism is sometimes used in conjunction with psychological theory like Gestalt or interpretation of dreams. Unlike Formalism, it can be highly subjective.

Woman Holding a Balance Jan Vermeer oil on canvas c. 1664, Dutch

Art and Its Codes Vermeer's Woman Holding a Balance -elements are used to communicate the illusion of space. These are commonly referred to as conventions. In this painting we respond to the subject, not the medium used (oil on canvas). Eizan's Courtesan Misado of the Tama-ya (House of Jewels) -in 19th Century Asian Art, most of the emphasis is placed on the communication of an idea "in" the medium. The evidence of line, value, and flat characteristics give us an insight into something "more" about the subject. We respond to the medium.

Courtesan Misado of the Tama-ya (House of Jewels) Eizan Oban color print c. 1810, Japanese

Vocabulary -Line: abstract idea representing the point where two planes meet (hatching/crosshatching) -Value: lightness and darkness of an area or plane. -Color: Primary color (RYB), secondary color(OGP), complements -Harmonies: monochrome-defined by value, complementary-color opposites, analagous-similar color

Holy Family Nicholas Poussin oil on canvas 1760, French Baroque Peasant Dance Pieter Breughel the Elder oil on panel 1568, Netherlands

Conventions -halos on saints (holy), blue robe on Mary (color symbolized heaven) -linear perspective-mathematical system for organizing space in a convincing way -aerial (atmospheric) perspective-changes in value/color to indicate depth -chiaroscuro-the use of light and dark to indicate volume in a form The Good, the Bad, the Ugly -Art has been used to create political image and sway the opinion of many. Louis XIV (Sun King) established the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture as a way to influence the populace and support his claim as "Roman" Emperor. The Academy was the first school of art and had great influence in the art world when it was established. The school taught from a Classical perspective which created associations to the Roman Empire. -Dutch painting from the same time focused on everyday themes and items. This was a style directed at the "middle class" of 17th Century Netherlands. Unlike high Classical painting, Dutch painting used everyday people and scenes (genre painting) as subject matter. Making Amends -Western art has unfairly categorized outside art using "social Darwinism" to elevate the art of the West and taint the work of other cultures. Words such as "primitive" have unfairly characterized some excellent art as a stage of development toward Western art (as if it were the ultimate goal). It is important to understand that excellence in art exists in all cultures and periods. We must look further into its background to understand the real value of the art in its cultural context. next study guide: Chapter 1