Art history is an expansive field that encompasses a variety of disciplines including art, architecture, anthropology, sociology, and more. It is the study of art in its historical context and explores the relationships between the artwork and its creators, patrons, viewers, and society.
Art history is not just limited to paintings or sculptures; it can also include architecture, photography, film and other media.
When writing about art history, it is important to keep in mind that it is a discipline that focuses on analyzing works of art in their contexts. This means that when you write about a work of art you need to provide information about the artist or architect who created it as well as its location and patrons. You should also consider the social, political and cultural environment that surrounded the artwork at the time of its creation in order to better understand how it was interpreted by those who viewed it.
Identifying Significant Artworks
When writing about art history you should focus on identifying significant works of art from different periods in time. Researching these works will allow you to gain insight into how different styles evolved over time and what was considered “important” by various cultures. For example, studying Renaissance paintings or sculptures can reveal a great deal about society’s values during that period.
Analyzing Styles
When examining specific pieces of artwork or various works from a particular period or style, look for visual cues such as color usage and composition to identify patterns that are indicative of particular artistic movements. You should also consider how the artwork reflects its context: what message is being conveyed by its symbolism?
How does it reflect societal values? Is it controversial? Analyzing these elements will help you draw conclusions about why certain pieces are important within their respective genres.
Critiquing Works
When critiquing works of art history you need to be able to assess them objectively while acknowledging your own subjective opinion; this means looking at their technical aspects such as composition and technique as well as evaluating them based on their aesthetic merits. When critiquing an artwork consider questions such as: Does the piece evoke emotion? Does it communicate anything meaningful or profound? Is there something unique or distinctive about it?
Answering these questions will help you develop your own opinion on why certain works can be considered “great” within their genre.
Conclusion:
How Do You Write About Art History? Writing about art history requires an understanding of both visual analysis techniques as well as knowledge about the context surrounding specific pieces and artistic movements. To do this effectively one must identify significant works from different periods in time; analyze styles for visual cues; critique works objectively while considering personal opinion; and research relevant background information. By using these methods one can gain insights into why certain artwork has been considered influential throughout history.