Visual Arts

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Visual Arts

• Why Create Art?

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Why Create Art?

• There is no single answer, except to say that the
  need to create is one of the special
  characteristics of being human.
• There is archaeological evidence for this need to
  create dating back at least 25,000 years to the
  Venus of Willendorf sculpture.
• While there is no one answer, we will go over
  several general purposes that art can serve.

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Why? Artistic Expression

• To communicate emotion, ideas or feelings.

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Why? Artistic Expression

• The Potato Eaters, 1885. Vincent van Gogh. Van
  Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
• Van Gogh wanted to depict life among the lowly as
  it was.
• What do feelings, ideas or emotions do you think
  that the artist intended to convey about life
  among the poor?

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Why? Artistic Expression
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Why? Ceremonial

• Art created to observe a ritual, for celebration
  or commemoration.

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Why? Ceremonial

• Tibetan sand mandalas are created from colored
  sand, usually over a period of several weeks.
• They depict representations of Buddhist doctrine.
• After completed, they are ritually swept up to
  symbolize impermanence.

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Why? Ceremonial
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Why? Functional Art

• Functional art consists of everyday objects.
• Examples could be pottery, basketry, and even
  architecture.

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Why? Functional Art

• Basket, c. 1920s.
• Lucy Telles
• Smithsonian,
• Washington, D.C.

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Why? Persuasive Art

• This type of art promotes ideas or products.
• Examples could include advertising, marketing,
  propaganda or ideology.

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Why? Persuasive Art

• We Can Do It, 1942. J. Howard Miller.
• This poster was originally intended to boost
  worker morale.
• It was later used by the feminist movement.

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Why? Persuasive Art
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Why? Narrative Art

• Narrative art is used to tell stories, describe
  experiences, or document historical events.

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Why? Narrative Art

• Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1851. Emanuel
  Luetze. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
  Oil on canvas.
• This artwork documents the surprise attack
  Washington made in the Battle of Trenton,
  December 25-26, 1776.

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Why? Narrative Art
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Why? Multiple Functions

• Art does not have to fit into one category or
  another.
• Art could serve several functions at the same
  time.

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Why? Multiple Functions

• Detail of stained glass window, 13th century.
  Notre-dame de Chartres Cathedral, Paris.
• Depicts the marriage at Cana.
• This piece is both functional and narrative.

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Why? Multiple Functions