analyzing art

Analyzing Art“A painting [work of art] ought

to change as you look at it, and as you think, talk, and write about it.”

--Harry Berger Jr.

Hieronymus Bosch “Ship of Fools” 1475-1480What are your initial

reactions—write for 2-3 minutes. Listing is fine. Don’t worry about analysis yet; catalogue what’s here.

WU: Quote Response“The world wants to be deceived.”

-Sebastian Brant

What does this mean to you? What is Brant’s take on mankind? Do you agree?

Allegory of Gluttony and Lust

We wander in more dout than mortall man can thynke.And oft by our foly and wylfull neglygenceOur shyp is in great peryll for to synke.So sore ar we overcharged with offenceWe see the daunger before our owne presenceOf straytis, rockis, and bankis of sonde full hye,Yet we procede to wylfull jeopardye.We dyvers Monsters within the se beholdeRedy to abuse or to devour mankynde,As Dolphyns, whallys, and wonders many folde,And oft the Marmaydes songe dullyth our myndeThat to all goodnes we ar made dull and blynde;The wolves of these oft do us moche care,Yet we of them can never well beware....About we wander in tempest and Tourment;What place is sure, where Foles may remayneAnd fyx theyr dwellynge sure and parmanent?None certainly: The cause thereof is playne.We wander in the se for pleasour, bydynge payne,And though the haven of helth be in our syghtAlas we fle from it with all our myght. Sebastian Brant

Common Symbols in Bosch’s work:

The owl=heresy, evilFruit=sex, licentiousnessThe cat=cruelty, the devilStringed instruments=loveThe horse=unbridled rage, lust

The crescent=paganism, heresy (opposing religious ideals)The jug=gluttonyThe egg=life, the source of lifeThe goat=prurience, lust

Thesis Creation: IDENTIFY: What’s there?

Author/artist devices or techniques

Patterns in the text

INTERPRET: What does it mean? How do you know what you know?

Themes created by techniques

Evidence that supports conclusions

 ANALYZE/UNPACK: Why is this interpretation important? So what?

How/why the author’s choices affect the reader

Impact of interpretation

Complications that arise because of the interpretation

 Thesis equation:

 Technique/device + Idea it creates within the text (theme) + Effect on the reader outside of the text (So what?) = THESIS

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Works to Choose From:1) Pieter Brueghel “Gula”2) Hieronymus Bosch “Death and the Miser”

3) Edgar Degas “The Bellelli Family”4) Johannnies Vermeer “Woman Holding a Balance”

“Tribute Money” Masaccio