L6 - Unit 2 Critical and Contextual References in Art and Design Practice Task

Picasso - Les Demoiselles D'Avignon 1907

Jackson Pollock - Blue Poles 1954

Damian Hirst - The physical impossibility of death in the mind of someone living 1991

Based on the Art History talks we have had this term you need to select 3 Artworks that you regard as particularly significant and provide detailed analysis on each one. One Artwork should be selected from each of the following time periods:

·         1 piece from the period 1870 – 1919

·         1 piece from the period 1920 – 1969

·         1 piece from the period 1970 - 2019

For each Artwork you have selected provide commentary that addresses the following points:

1.  Briefly provide Full factual information relating to the Artwork – when it was produced, by whom, scale and media; identify if the Artwork is associated with a particular movement.

2.      Visual Analysis, discuss the formal qualities of each Artwork - evaluate technique /mark-making, use of colour, composition and atmosphere/mood.

3.      Theoretical information – What influenced the Artist? What social, political or personal references (if any) was the Artist making with the work? How did the Artwork influence future generations of visual Artists?

4.      Your personal response to each work. Justify your reasons for selecting it. This should be an informed personal view, resulting from your research into the work and your understanding of the Artist’s intentions in producing it.

·   Avoid plagiarism. If you are using information from a source either include it as a quotation or substantially reword your source. If plagiarism was discovered in an academic piece like this would result in automatic failure.

·         Back up points you make by using quotations from Artists or critics. You should include at least one quotation for each selected Artwork.

Write succinctly (stick to the important stuff, don't waffle or waste words) and try to limit your discussion of each Artwork to between 250 – 350 words.

This task needs to be completed over the Easter break and submitted for assessment on our first day back - Wednesday 24th April.
Feedback given from this practice task will help you to perform better in your Unit 2 Exam on 15th May.