05 Jul write an Analysis Essay on a portrait from selected list 2-3 pages double spaced
Question Description
ASSIGNMENT: Often, portraits are more than a simple likeness of a person; they contain clues about historical, social, and cultural context as well as information about the sitter’s character and position. The French theorist Roland Barthes makes the distinction between “denotative” and “connotative” meanings of images. The denotative meaning can be understood as a literal, descriptive meaning, while a connotative reading of an artwork can expand meaning.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Select ONE of the following modern portraits for analysis:
– Oswald Birley, Arabella Duval Huntington, 1924 (The Huntington and Textbook – Wests)
– Edvard Munch, Self-Portrait with Skeleton Arm, 1895 (The British Museum and Textbook – West)
– John Singer Sargent, Mrs. Joshua Montgomery Sears, 1899 (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Text – Eye Contact)
– Paul Cézanne, Madame Cézanne in a Red Dress, 1888-1890 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
– Thomas Eakins, Miss Van Buren, ca. 1891 (The Phillips Collection)
– William Merritt Chase, Dora Wheeler, 1882-83 (Cleveland Museum of Art)
– Henri Matisse, Woman with a Hat, 1905 (San Francisco Museum of Fine Art)
– Pablo Picasso, Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler, 1910 (Art Institute of Chicago & Textbook – Eye Contact)
– Pablo Picasso, Dora Maar with Cat, 1941 (Private Collection)
Write a 2-3 page analysis of the portrait in which you move beyond a denotative description and explore the connotative meanings of the artworks. In other words, describe, interpret, and evaluate the personality, status, role, etc. of the sitter by explaining how the choices made by the artist contribute to the viewer’s understanding of who the person was. You might consider if the artist flatters, enhances, exaggerates, or hides aspects about the sitter and what affect these choices have on the viewer’s understanding.
1) You should have an introduction paragraph with a well-defined thesis statement where you identify the work of art and state the main theme(s) of the painting. For example… “Painted in 1900 by John Singer Sargent, Portrait of Dorothy is of a privileged, perhaps even precocious, young girl.”
2) To assist in your analysis, you should describe what you see (denotative) and then explain how the details expand what we know about the sitter (connotative). You might consider historical, cultural, moral, and social contexts, attitude, pose, gesture, dress, space they occupy, and their involvement with the viewer, etc. Describe how these are reflected and what they do to the viewer’s understanding of the painting. Be selective, with such a short paper you probably can’t cover everything!
3) Be sure to ORGANIZE your points – each of which should support your thesis. Make an outline and work from a plan. Devote a separate paragraph to each of your points.
4) Do not offer your opinion of the artwork, or of the artists – avoid “beautiful” “masterpiece” and other superlatives. Do not state that this work is “amazing” or that this is a “great artist” – that goes without saying. This paper is not about how much you like or do not like the painting.
5) In a formal paper such as this, DO NOT use contractions. Write “do not” rather than “don’t.”
6) Do not write in first person – avoid “I,” “me,” etc. Instead use terms such as “the viewer,” “one,” etc.
7) Be specific when discussing things like meaning, compositional elements, symbols / iconography, etc. Provide examples.
8) Biographical information on the artists is not necessary unless it supports your thesis, yet biographical information on the sitter may be very important in helping to analyze the painting.
FORMAT: 2-3 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font, 1” margins. Include a title for your paper and introduce the painting in the first sentence or two – with name of artist, title in italics and date. Thereafter, refer to artist using last name only and do not repeat the date of the artwork. Edit paper for grammar and spelling. SOURCES: You must include at least 3 sources (NOT Wikipedia or Blogs). JSTOR articles, museum websites, etc. are excellent sources. Use footnotes or endnotes as necessary and include a bibliography of your sources; you may use any standard citation formation including Chicago Manual Style, MLA, or APA.
Our website has a team of professional writers who can help you write any of your homework. They will write your papers from scratch. We also have a team of editors just to make sure all papers are of HIGH QUALITY & PLAGIARISM FREE. To make an Order you only need to click Ask A Question and we will direct you to our Order Page at WriteDemy. Then fill Our Order Form with all your assignment instructions. Select your deadline and pay for your paper. You will get it few hours before your set deadline.
Fill in all the assignment paper details that are required in the order form with the standard information being the page count, deadline, academic level and type of paper. It is advisable to have this information at hand so that you can quickly fill in the necessary information needed in the form for the essay writer to be immediately assigned to your writing project. Make payment for the custom essay order to enable us to assign a suitable writer to your order. Payments are made through Paypal on a secured billing page. Finally, sit back and relax.
About Wridemy
We are a professional paper writing website. If you have searched a question and bumped into our website just know you are in the right place to get help in your coursework. We offer HIGH QUALITY & PLAGIARISM FREE Papers.
How It Works
To make an Order you only need to click on “Order Now” and we will direct you to our Order Page. Fill Our Order Form with all your assignment instructions. Select your deadline and pay for your paper. You will get it few hours before your set deadline.
Are there Discounts?
All new clients are eligible for 20% off in their first Order. Our payment method is safe and secure.