Art 1: Foundations of Studio Art

MIDTERM EXAM - 100 points

Name: Ms. Appel Period: all

DIRECTIONS:
Choose one of the works of art from the screen and analyze it using Feldmans Method. All written answers must be in complete sentences. Remember to support everything you say with specific examples from the artwork. Try to balance being as descriptive as possible with being efficient with your words - you do not have to feel compelled to fill all the empty space Ive given you!

Step 1:

DESCRIBE ___________________ (what is this step called?) Andrew Wyeth Christinas World

Artist: Title:

Year(s): 1948 Medium: Tempera on gessoed panel Descriptive sentence (or two) about the work of art:
This painting shows a girl laying in a eld, propping herself up on her arms, and seeming to look at a house in the distance. The girl is in the lower left-hand corner looking at a house in the upper righthand corner.

What are the three most important Elements of Art in the work? Be specific and go into detail where do you see it in the work of art? A. Space is an important element in this painting. The girl is in the foreground, while the house
is much smaller and in the background. The middle ground takes up the most area in the painting, and is rather empty. This gives the painting a sense of depth: it almost feels like you could walk into the painting.

B. Color is another important element in Christinas World. The colors are dim and have low
intensity. For example, the girls dress is a very faded red that barely shows color at all.

C. Texture is important in this painting because Wyeths brushstrokes make it seem like the
grass in the eld is rough, while the cloth of the girls dress seems smooth.

Step 2:

ANALYZE ___________________ (what is this step called?)

What are the three most important Principles of Design in the work? Be specific and go into detail where do you see it? What Element(s) of Art help(s) to show that Principle? D. Movement is an important principle in this painting, and is shown through value. My eye is
rst drawn to the light value of the girls dress, then moves to the dark shadow at the far right edge of the eld, then moves to the dark value of the house against the sky, then nally notices the light area of the eld below the house and to the left.

E. The girl is emphasized through the use of space; attention is drawn to her because the space
nearest around her is so empty.

F. Wyeth shows a great deal of contrast in this painting. For example, the texture of the eld is
rough, but the texture of the girls dress seems like it would be smooth.

Step 3:

INTERPRET ___________________ (what is this step called?)

A. Into which category would you put this artwork? (CIRCLE ONE) PERCEPTUAL B. Why do you think that?
This painting is perceptual because the objects are clearly recognizable, are painted to look like they would in real life, and nothing has been simplied or exaggerated.

EXPRESSIVE

NON-OBJECTIVE

C. What is your claim for the meaning or intent of this artwork? Support your claim with one element and one principle from steps 1 and 2.
The contrast of textures and colors between the girl and the eld place emphasis on her in the painting. Because of her twisted body and frail arm she looks injured, and seems like she wants to return to the house in the distance but cannot.

Step 4:

JUDGE ___________________ (what is this step called?)

A. Alternative Element of Art:

The shape of the girl and her dress is organic, but the shape of the house is more geometric.

B. Alternative Principle of Design:

The shapes of the girl and the house are diagonally opposed to each other, creating a sense of balance.

C. Alternative interpretation based on alternative Element and Principle (this is your counterclaim):
There is contrast in color and shape between the pink dress and organic shape of the girl and the brown of the more geometric house in the top corner. The diagonal balance between her and the house creates a relationship between them. She is escaping from the structured life in the house to the more natural world outside.

D. Conclusion (address the counterclaim then reaffirm your claim):

The space between the woman and the distant house create a relationship between them. They also balance one another diagonally. However, the visual movement created by the womans longing gaze towards the house emphasizes her attempt at returning to the house rather than escape from it.

(optional doodle space)