Semester Project #1 Reminder & Guidelines

This can be a short paper OR a brief oral presentation (use of PowerPoint is encouraged)

Choose a work of art—a painting or a drawing—to analyze from the period of history you are currently studying at home. The piece should relate to a significant event, idea, or movement of that time. Try to pick something you haven’t previously studied. 

Things to include:

• a brief introduction to the time period or event you are studying (what was going on at the time of the EVENT DEPICTED in the painting?)
• the artist (who painted it? where was s/he born? when? where did this person learn how to paint?)
• a description of the art work itself (when was it painted? with what material? on what type of media?
• an analysis of how the artist used various elements of art its design (so far, you've studied space, line, texture, shape, form, and value). How did the artist use these elements in the painting? (you don't have to explain how every single element was used or not used)
• an explanation of how this particular piece has influenced historical perspective about your subject. 

Your focus should be on analysis and explanation.

Project is due: October 8, 2015

Students will either read their papers aloud (visual aids are encouraged) OR give their oral presentations to the class. Presentations will be videotaped (optional) and made available to the student within a week.

For example: the painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware. This painting romanticized the crossing which actually took place in the middle of the night...The focus is on the military strength of Washington and his determination. When people see this, they will imagine...