Analysis of Visual Imagery in Art History: Topics and Themes

Topic 1: Visualizing Greek Women in Ancient Greek Art

Write a paper (1500-2000 words) on ONE of the topics listed below. The purpose of the paper is twofold. On the one hand, it will allow you to develop your ability to analyze visual imagery in terms of its formal components and to gain experience in expressing your ideas in writing. On the other hand, it will provide you with the opportunity to use research into the historical context of the art as a means of accounting for its visual form.

1) Using examples of visual images to illustrate your argument, describe the ways in which Greek women are visualized in Greek art. Discuss how this is an expression of Greek values and the social roles of women.

2) The prostitute has been a consistent theme in art from Greek vase painting to Titian's Venus of Urbino to Manet's Olympia and beyond. Choose four works of art from two different time periods that take the prostitute as a theme. Compare the works in terms of style and subject matter and discuss how they are expressive of the periods in which they were produced.

3) The issue of racial representation of women in art is often a contentious issue. Art has been used as a tool to racially subordinate or celebrate women as well as create dialogue around issues of race and gender. Choose four works of art by two artists (two each) and compare them in terms of style and subject matter. Discuss the ways in which they are expressive of race and gender issues in their historical contexts. Artists to consider include Eugene Delacroix, Jean Leon Gerome, Paul Gauguin, Bettye Saare, Faith Ringgold and Rebecca Belmore.

4) From medieval nursing Madonnas to 17th c. Dutch still lifes to Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party, the relationship between women and food has had a complex history in life and art. Choosing works that deal with food and gender, discuss the ways in which this relationship is expressed through art and how it reveals the values of the society in which it is produced.

5) Images of gay and lesbian art range from ancient Greece, Donatello and Caravaggio to Rosa Bonheur, Romaine Brookes and Robert Mapplethorpe. Choose two artists, either historical or contemporary, from the LGBT community and compare four of their works (2 each) in terms of style, medium and subject matter. Discuss the ways in which their works are reflective of issues surrounding gender identity in their respective historical contexts.

6) From Renaissance merchant couture to 17th c. French court gowns to Hilary Clinton's power suits, fashion has been used to construct images of power. Choose four works of art or photography from two different periods (two works from each period) that use fashion to portray a particular image of power. Compare the works in terms of style and subject and the messages being conveyed. Discuss how they are expressive of the historical contexts in which they were produced.

7) Each pair of artists listed below was working in the same social context. Choose one pair and using works by each artist, compare and contrast them in terms of style and subject matter. Discuss the ways in which each artist’s work is an expression of their historical circumstances. Address gender issues such as the roles of men and women in society, artistic training available, exhibition possibilities and the gender of the artist as well as subject represented. Explore these ideas in relation to the artists and their works.

1) Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera

2) Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner

3) Joyce Wieland and Michael Snow

4) Elizabeth Vigee-Lebrun and Jacques Louis David

5) Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas

6) Artemisia Gentileschi and Caravaggio