The art discourse community:
- a socio-rhetorical group of people who share common goals directly related to art; certain mechanisms of communication (e.g., art magazines); specific vocabulary, grammar, semantics, rhetoric; specific GENRES
- genre: type of texts that share the same communicative purpose
The Critical Essay = a genre whose communicative purpose is to offer a personal opinion on a specific subject. Therefore we can consider it subjective writing. Nonetheless, subjective does not mean total lack of evidence for what we claim.
The Formal Analysis
- a type of critical essay
- to analyse = to take a thing apart; to decompose it in order to see what its components are and how they work together as a whole => to analyse a work of art = to deconstruct it into smaller elements such as : subject-matter; formal elements; principles of design; style; purpose, etc.
- purpose: to describe, interpret and/or evaluate a work of art, that is, to analyse a work of art
- prerequisite: direct access to the real work or to a good reproduction
- each such important element is then analysed in order to see what role it plays in the whole
- the standard move-structure of a text belonging to the subgenre of formal analysis:
MOVE I: Introducing the work and the artist
MOVE II: Transition:
- usually offers a personal first response to the work
MOVE III: Analysing de-constructed elements:
MOVE IV: Concluding:
- offering a final interpretation +/- evaluation of the whole work, based on the previous analyses
TASKS:
- study the texts:
1. The Marriage of Giovanni Arnolfini and Jeanne Cenami by Jan van Eyck, written by Erwin Panofsky
The text you are supposed to read is really Panofsky's text (which can be found in the book Anda-Elena Cretiu: Discourse and Communication in Visual Arts, Casa Cartii de Stiinta, 2014, or in
Genre-Structured Discourse in Art Texts, Presa Univ. Clujeana, 2003) (in our library). The links below are only commentaries on the text and may help you better understand it.
Erwin Panofsky and his interpretation of art woks
another version of the text
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnolfini_Portrait
2. Ten Lizes by Andy Warhol by Anca Teodora Pora
- comment on the analyses made by the authors, that is, on the descriptions and interpretations and/or evaluations offered; did they convince you?; c
- a socio-rhetorical group of people who share common goals directly related to art; certain mechanisms of communication (e.g., art magazines); specific vocabulary, grammar, semantics, rhetoric; specific GENRES
- genre: type of texts that share the same communicative purpose
The Critical Essay = a genre whose communicative purpose is to offer a personal opinion on a specific subject. Therefore we can consider it subjective writing. Nonetheless, subjective does not mean total lack of evidence for what we claim.
The Formal Analysis
- a type of critical essay
- to analyse = to take a thing apart; to decompose it in order to see what its components are and how they work together as a whole => to analyse a work of art = to deconstruct it into smaller elements such as : subject-matter; formal elements; principles of design; style; purpose, etc.
- purpose: to describe, interpret and/or evaluate a work of art, that is, to analyse a work of art
- prerequisite: direct access to the real work or to a good reproduction
- each such important element is then analysed in order to see what role it plays in the whole
- the standard move-structure of a text belonging to the subgenre of formal analysis:
MOVE I: Introducing the work and the artist
- step 1: identifying the work (some details about the title, author, theme, subject-matter, medium, dimensions, period of creation, current location, purposes of creation)
- step 2: identifying the artist: only that biographical information considered relevant for the work analysed
MOVE II: Transition:
- usually offers a personal first response to the work
MOVE III: Analysing de-constructed elements:
- step 1: analysing first element : describing the first element + interpreting the first element + /- evaluating the first element (e.g. a character in the work)
- step 2: analysing element 2 (e.g. the principle of the perfect symmetry)
- step 3: analysing element 3 (e.g. the dominating colour)
MOVE IV: Concluding:
- offering a final interpretation +/- evaluation of the whole work, based on the previous analyses
TASKS:
- study the texts:
1. The Marriage of Giovanni Arnolfini and Jeanne Cenami by Jan van Eyck, written by Erwin Panofsky
The text you are supposed to read is really Panofsky's text (which can be found in the book Anda-Elena Cretiu: Discourse and Communication in Visual Arts, Casa Cartii de Stiinta, 2014, or in
Erwin Panofsky and his interpretation of art woks
another version of the text
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnolfini_Portrait
2. Ten Lizes by Andy Warhol by Anca Teodora Pora
- comment on the analyses made by the authors, that is, on the descriptions and interpretations and/or evaluations offered; did they convince you?; c
an you find other possible interpretations to those elements?; are there other elements you would have chosen instead? Which? Why?
3. Access the video material below. What elements are analyzed? Although no interpretations are assigned to the formal elements analyzed here, can you think of 2-3 partial interpretations and an on-the-whole one?
DEADLINE: November 10
Dracea Luca-Vlad
ReplyDeleteAnul 2
Foto-Video
1. “The Arnolfini Marriage” – Erwin Panofsky
Panofsky’s interpretation:
Panofsky sees the painting as a symbolic representation of a marriage, with details loaded with meanings: the hand gesture, the shoes taken off, the dog (fidelity), the lit candle (the presence of the divinity), the mirror (witness), the artist’s signature – all signs would support the idea of an official nuptial act.
Criticisms of the interpretation:
Documents were later discovered showing that the Arnolfini couple married after van Eyck’s death.
Some symbols may have simpler explanations (the shoes taken off = a domestic gesture, not a religious one).
The painting may also be a prestigious portrait, not necessarily a wedding.
My point of view:
Panofsky convinces through rigor, but sometimes exaggerates the symbolism. An alternative interpretation may be that the painting reflects social status or even an engagement, not an actual marriage.
2. “Ten Lizas” – Andy Warhol, commentary based on the text by A. T. Pora
Author’s analysis:
Pora interprets the work as a critique of celebrity culture and mass reproduction – Liz Taylor’s image becomes a commodity. Repetition suggests the emptiness of meaning, and the brilliant aesthetics mask the fragility of identity.
Partially – it is a plausible interpretation, but not the only one. Warhol is ambiguous: he can criticize, but also glorify celebrities.
Other possible interpretations:
A form of visual memorial – the preservation of a cultural icon.
A reflection on fragmented identity in the media age
3. The video
Elements analyzed:
Composition, light, color, texture, line – no direct interpretations.
2–3 possible interpretations:
The contrast of light can suggest the tension between appearance and essence.
The formal repetition can indicate the visual monotony of the modern era.
A possible general interpretation: the work expresses how the image becomes central in our perception of reality.
1.According to Panofsky, Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait is a visual document of a marriage ceremony. Every element in the scene carries symbolic weight: the joined hands represent union, the discarded shoes suggest a sacred space, the dog stands for loyalty, the single candle marks divine presence, and the convex mirror serves as a witness to the act. Even the artist’s signature reinforces the idea of an official event being recorded.Later research revealed that the Arnolfini couple actually married after van Eyck’s death, which challenges Panofsky’s theory. Many of the supposed “symbols” might simply reflect daily life like taking off shoes indoors as a common custom. Some scholars now believe the painting could instead be a formal double portrait meant to highlight wealth and respectability rather than document a wedding.
ReplyDeleteMy point of view,while Panofsky’s reading is impressive in its depth and logic, it sometimes feels overly symbolic. I see the painting as more of a social statement than a religious or legal one—perhaps celebrating engagement, prosperity, or domestic virtue rather than a literal marriage. The meticulous detail and luxurious setting seem to emphasize status and identity as much as personal union.
2.Anca Teodora Pora’s analysis of Andy Warhol’s Ten Lizes does a great job of explaining how Warhol used repetition and screen-printing to show how fame can turn a person into a product. I found her points convincing, especially her idea that the repeated images of Elizabeth Taylor reflect how the media strips away individuality. Still, I think there’s more that could be said. For example, the faded, uneven look of the prints might also suggest something deeper—like the fragility of fame or the loneliness behind celebrity life. I’d also focus more on Warhol’s use of color and texture, since the contrast between sharp and blurry areas adds emotional depth to the piece. Overall, Pora’s interpretation is strong, but adding these details could make the analysis even richer and more personal.
3.Elements examined,composition, lighting, color, texture, and line are analyzed, though no explicit interpretations are provided.The interplay of light and shadow might reflect the tension between surface appearance and underlying reality.
The repeated visual motifs could suggest the monotony or uniformity of contemporary life.A possible overall interpretation:
The work can be seen as highlighting how images dominate and shape the way we perceive the world.
Daroczi Dalma- Grafica anul II licenta
ReplyDelete1. "The marriage of of Giovanni Arnolfini and Jeanne Cenami" by Jan van Eyck, analyzed by Erwin Panofsky
Erwin Panofsky was an art historian who described the "Arnolfini portrait" by Jean van Eyck as a statement of marriage and commitment. His analysis was highly symbolic, he found a deeper meaning to almost every item in the painting. Erwin Panofsky said that the dog symbolizes fidelity, while the gentle holding of hands means tenderness and love, act that paints this marriage as a sacred oath. The mirror stands as witness to this oath, while the single lit candle represents the presence of a divine force. There are also small medallions set into the frame of the mirror, they represent God's salvation towards those seen in the mirror. Also, we can see Jean van Eyck's signature on the wall above the mirror, this way the artist attests his presence at this event as a witness. Although Panofsky sees symbolism in everything, many people argue that the painting has a much simpler meaning than his. Many say that it is a simple painting that shows the wealth of a family, because a lot of emphasis is put on the clothes and the room decor, obviously stating that the Arnolfini's are of noble origin.
2. "Ten Lizes" by Andy Warhol, analyzed by Anca Teodora Pora
I think that Anca Teodora Pora analyzed Warhol's work thoroughly, she dove into the societal problems the artist tried to explain. Andy Warhol is famous for reflecting upon society's need for consumption and through this work, he illustrated that the people need quantity over quality, the quality of the portrait deteriorating each time it's printed. He used the silkscreen printing method, a mass production technique, only accentuating the woman's main features like hair, nose, eyes, eyebrows and lips. Elisabeth Taylor, was an actress, she was a icon and a close friend of Andy. Through this series he strips her soul from the prints, only leaving behind the main points by which she can be identified, fact that represents how people would buy something mass produced just for the sake of it even if it's lacking the spirit. Also, the size of the prints is massive, it plays into the impact of the message, it's calling the viewer to look into the details, to see how the quality is deteriorating with each print. I consider that Anca Teodora Pora did an amazing job analyzing this artwork, she did a meticulous job explaining the meaning of it.
3. Elements analyzed: scale, composition, line,colour,light and materials
partial interpretation: the light is soft and warm, suggesting serenity and grace
the pyramidal composition suggests order and safety, the way Madonna cradles the baby is very intimate and safe, a feeling only a mother can give
on the whole interpretation:
Bellini's "Madonna of the Meadow" is very different: in this quietly composed, luminously coloured landscape space, the sacred and natural are set side by side in harmony. The restrained modeling and geometrical balance result in a spiritual calm instead of dramatic emotion. Therefore, the painting embodies the ideal of the Renaissance which is divine presence in the form of natural beauty. It's a moment of peaceful meditation on motherhood, nature, divinity and grace.
In the video below, the authors analyze a work by Giovanni Belilini, more precisely "The Madonna of the Meadow". They analyze what they see, namely scale, composition, pictorial space, shape, line, color, light, tone, texture.
ReplyDeleteIf we refer to the scale, this work is of medium size, because we do not have to step back to see the entire work and we do not have to get very close to see the details.
If we refer to the composition, the character in the center of the image is smaller than life size and occupies a third of the frame. The character, Virgin Mary, is located in the center of the image and together with the drapery of the clothing forms a pyramidal structure with a large base downwards. The child who is on her lap is in the same pyramidal shape showing the intimate connection with his mother. The fact that the female character rises above the horizon line and is close to the viewer shows us that he is the main character in the work. But the landscape around her, which takes up quite a bit of space, seems to frame the main character. Around the character the author draws horizontal bands by rendering grass, pebbles, a plowed field and even clouds. On one side the character is framed by the vertical lines of the trees and on the other side by the lines of the buildings. Another way to consider the composition is the way the author tilts Mary's head, which has the same inclination as Christ's head. The Virgin Mary's hands, which have their fingers joined together to form a rounded shape between them, which has about the same volume as Christ's head and her own head. The diagonal formed by her right shoulder has the same inclination as the diagonal of her forearm and the diagonal of the inclination of the child's body in her lap.
Regarding pictorial space, we can say that the author used aerial perspective and linear perspective to render the impression of spatiality and the illusion of three dimensions, by placing objects in front of each other, by rendering in vivid or less vivid colors the objects that are further from the viewer, by rendering in color the different intensities of the blue of the sky to render the distance.
Scale, composition, color, tone, light, form, space, line, texture and pattern are tools used to lock close to a peace of art, to explore and better understand it.