Part 2: Symbolism in Illustration and Painting

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Related Units
Unit 2: Saying It with Symbols
 

Activity 2B: Looking at Art

 
Symbolism in Art

Vanitas Still Life, 1603 (analyzed in the unit)

Jacques de Gheyn the Elder (Dutch, 1565–1629)

http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/viewOne.asp?dep=22&viewmode=0&item=1974.1

 

100 Cans, 1962 Andy Warhol (analyzed in the unit)

http://artscenecal.com/ArtistsFiles/WarholA/WarholAFile/WarholAPics/AWarhol7.html

 

Dragon Pine, Wu Boli, ca. 1400 (Ming Dynasty) (analyzed in the unit)

http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/44842

 
Interactive Media that Describe Symbolism in Art

 Adinkra Symbols of West Africa

 This site contains an index of adinkra symbols. African symbols known as adinkra are ubiquitous in Ghana. These symbols are used frequently and can be found on cloth and walls, and in pottery and logos.

 http://www.adinkra.org/

 

Carpet Hunt, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Look and Learn

Game about Carpet with pictorial design, Northern India, Lahore, late 16th or early 17th century.

http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/flowers/flowers/index.htm

  

Look for the Symbolism in the Sculpture, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Look and Learn

Analysis of Fudô Myô-ô, 12th century Japanese; late Heian period

http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/symbols/html/el_symbols_index.htm

  

Further Examples of Symbolism in Art

Allegory of Fortitude, Luca Giordano, early 1680s

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects.dll/CollectionPublisher.woa/wa/work?workNumber=l888

 

The Annunciation Triptych, Robert Campin and Assistant, 1425

http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/470304

 

Portrait of a Lady, 1533, Agnolo Bronzino

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2001/virtuebeauty/length.shtm

 

Shazia Sikander: “Gods, Griffins, and Cowboy Boots”

The Red Studio at the MoMA offers an interview with the artist by teens at the Red Studio, as well as samples of Shazia Sikander’s work.

http://www.moma.org/interactives/redstudio/interviews/shahzia/shahzia.html

 

Kehinde Wiley

An introduction to his work

http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/kehinde_wiley/index.php

http://www.kehindewiley.com/main.html

 

Activity 2C.1: Placement and Framing

 
Making a Viewfinder

About.com: Instructions on how to make a viewfinder

http://painting.about.com/od/composition/ss/MakeViewFinder.htm