AP Art History Discussion Questions 20 PDF

Preview

Summary

Gardner's Art through the Ages discussion questions, Patricia Morchel...

Description

1. What symbolism is found in the Ghent Altarpiece? List the symbols and elaborate on their meaning The overarching theme of the Ghent Altarpiece is salvation, which is observable through the various symbolic elements depicted in the piece. To start, situated in the center of the piece is god, dressed in a lavish red gown. His status is indicated by the golden rays beaming behind his head, which are representative of his holy halo. The god appears quite benevolent and humanized, which makes him seem more down to earth to his believers. He is overwatching a lamb getting his blood drawn out into a chalice. While the lamb may appear like any other lambs, it is actually an embodiment of Christ. Thus, the bloodletting ceremony is in truth representative of Christ’s sacrifice. The cause of his death -- the sinful humans -- are represented through Adam and Eve. The two mortals are shown in the two corners in the top row fully in nude, which differentiates them from the holy immortals. Another symbol is that of a pelican, situated behind god in the piece. The pelican is a bird that is willing to do anything to keep their children alive, which reflects the god’s selflessness as he is willing to sacrifice his son for the salvation of the human race.

2. What is being depicted in the painting “Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride”? List the symbols contained in the painting and give their meaning. The piece was originally thought of as depicting a wedding, but recent studies have revealed that the piece is merely a gathering in Arnolfini’s house. This conclusion is reached as guests can be seen in the mirror behind the couple, while it was custom in the fifteenth century for meetings to take place in the bedroom. The painting is extremely rich in detail and filled with symbolism. Starting in the foreground, the clogs laid haphazardly on the floor are symbolic of the holiness of marriage, while the dog represents fidelity and loyalty between the couple. Moving back, the small broom is representative of the taking care of the child, while the oranges are symbols of wealth since it was rare and thus extremely expensive. The single candle in the chandelier may be interpreted as indicative of the presence of god, while the rug below it is symbolic of wealth and taste. In the back, the mirror is decorated with tales of Christ's life and sacrifice, furthering the religious connotation.

3. What is the difference between relief and intaglio? Give an example of each and list the advantages of using either of these new forms of graphic art. Relief printing is the process of carving into a surface, such as wood, then applying ink into the surface. A paper is then pressed onto the surface and a flat circular piece of wood is used to make sure the ink is spread evenly. Intaglio printing is the process that uses an etched or engraved plate that is smeared with ink and then wiped clean, causing a little bit of ink to be left in the recesses of the etching. After that, hgh force machinery is used to press the paper onto the surface. An example of relief printing can be the Nuremberg Chronicles, which were initially carved out of a piece of wood. The lineart is left in tact while the negative spaces are carved away for an image to be printed out. On the other hand, Martin Schongauer’s works are intaglio prints. He uses a sharp tool to carve into a metal plate to create etchings. Furthermore, he uses cross hatching to create texture. These indentations are then filled with ink, which leaves a complete image printed onto sheets. It is clear that the print is intaglio as it is difficult to intentionally carve out negative space while maintaining a high level of complexity. Reliefs create comic-like prints, which are suitable for illustrated novels. On the other hand, intaglios are much more complex and allow for a greater level of detail, thus making it perfect for individual pieces....