Art history research paper thesis example

Art history research paper thesis example

art history research paper thesis example

Even as writing in Art History aims at new ways of seeing, it avoids absolutist claims, remaining keen to the way objects always exceed meaning. Writers in the field will often begin a project with a sustaining question instead of a totalizing thesis. For example: “What makes this art?” “How is this work challenging conventions within its Oct 18,  · Thesis Statement, Outline, and Bibliography Examples. Example #1. Thesis Statement: Still life painting as a genre was popularized and developed in the Baroque era, when artists began to move away from painting overtly religious scenes and began incorporating observational painting and images of the natural world into their work Here is an example of an art history thesis that could support either a visual analysis or a research paper: “Michelangelo’s David is a monument dedicated to overcoming adversity.” The visual analysis could describe David’s gesture and scale, its comparison to Classical models, its



Formal Analysis Paper Examples - Department of Art and Design



This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.


Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use. These OWL resources provide guidance on typical genres with the art history discipline that may appear in professional settings or academic assignments, including museum catalog entries, museum title cards, art history analysis, notetaking, and art history exams.


Typically in an art history class art history research paper thesis example main essay students will need to write for a final paper or for an exam is a formal or stylistic analysis. A formal analysis is just what it sounds like — you need to analyze the form of the artwork.


This includes the individual design elements — composition, color, line, texture, scale, contrast, etc. Questions to consider in art history research paper thesis example formal analysis is how do all these elements come together to create this work of art? Think of formal analysis in relation to literature — authors give descriptions of characters or places through the written word.


How does an artist convey this same information? Organize your information and focus on each feature before moving onto the text — it is not ideal to discuss color and jump from line to then in the conclusion discuss color again. First summarize the overall appearance of the work of art — is this a painting? Does the artist use only dark colors? Why heavy brushstrokes? etc and then discuss details of the object — this specific animal is gray, the sky is missing a moon, etc.


Again, it is best to be organized and focused in your writing — if you discuss the animals and then the individuals and go back to the animals you run the risk of making your writing unorganized and hard to read. It is also ideal to discuss the focal of the piece — what is in the center?


What stands out the most in the piece or takes up most of the composition? A stylistic approach can be described as an indicator of unique characteristics that analyzes and uses the formal elements 2-D: Line, color, value, shape and 3-D all of those and mass, art history research paper thesis example.


In the mid-seventh century to the early fifth, life-sized standing marble statues of young women, often elaborately dress in gaily painted garments were created known as korai. The earliest korai is a Naxian women to Artemis.


The statue wears a tight-fitted, belted peplos, giving the body a very plain look. The earliest korai wore the simpler Dorian peplos, which was a heavy woolen garment.


From aboutmost wear a thinner, more elaborate, and brightly painted Ionic linen art history research paper thesis example himation. A largely contrasting Greek statue to the korai is the Venus de Milo. The Venus from head to toe is six feet seven inches tall. Her hips suggest that she has had several children.


Though her body shows to be heavy, she still seems to almost be weightless. Viewing the Venus de Milo, she changes from side to side. From her right side she seems almost like a pillar and her leg bears most of the weight. She seems be firmly planted into the earth, and since she is looking at the left, her big features such as her waist define her. The Venus de Milo had a band around her right bicep. She had earrings that were brutally stolen, ripping her ears away. Venus was noted for loving necklaces, so it is very possibly she would have had one.


It is also possible she had a tiara and bracelets, art history research paper thesis example. Two statues in the same region, have throughout history, changed in their style. Most introductory art history classes will ask students to write a compare and contrast essay about two pieces — examples include comparing and contrasting a medieval to a renaissance painting.


It is always best to start with smaller comparisons between the two works of art such as the medium of the piece. Then the comparison can include attention to detail so use of color, subject matter, or iconography. Do the same for contrasting the two pieces — start small. If during an exam it would be best to quickly outline the points to make before tackling writing the essay. Stele of Hammurabi from Susa modern Shush, Iranca. Stele, relief sculpture, Art as propaganda — Hammurabi shows that his law code is approved by the gods, depiction of land in background, Hammurabi on the same place of importance as the god, etc.


Top of this stele shows the relief image of Hammurabi receiving the law code from Shamash, god of justice, art history research paper thesis example, Code of Babylonian social law, only two figures shown, different area and time period, etc, art history research paper thesis example.


Stele of Naram-sinSippar Found at Susa c. Limestone, height 6'6". Stele, relief sculpture, Example of propaganda because the ruler like the Stele of Hammurabi shows his power through divine authority, Naramsin is the main character due to his large size, depiction of land in background, etc.


Akkadian art, made of limestone, the stele commemorates a victory of Naramsin, art history research paper thesis example, multiple figures are shown specifically soldiers, different area and time period, etc. Regardless of what essay approach you take in class it is absolutely necessary to understand how to analyze the iconography of a work of art and to incorporate into your paper.


Iconography is defined as subject matter, what the image means. For example, why do things such as a art history research paper thesis example dog in a art history research paper thesis example in early Northern Renaissance paintings represent sexuality? Additionally, how can an individual perhaps identify these motifs that keep coming up? Find Info For Find Info For Academics Admissions Current Students Athletics About Careers Prospective Students Research and Partnerships Quick Links Apply News President Shop Visit Give Emergency.


Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts. Writing Lab Purdue OWL Research Contact Site Map. Subject-Specific Writing Writing in Art History.


Welcome to the Purdue OWL This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. Writing Essays in Art History Summary: These OWL resources provide guidance on typical genres with the art history discipline that may appear in professional settings or art history research paper thesis example assignments, including museum catalog entries, museum title cards, art history analysis, notetaking, and art history exams. Expressionism Instructuralism Naturalism Feminism Formalism Postmodernism Social Art History Biographical Approach Poststructuralism Museum Studies Visual Cultural Studies.


Contrast : Top of this stele shows the relief image of Hammurabi receiving the law code from Shamash, god of justice, Code of Babylonian social law, only two figures shown, different area and time period, etc. Limestone, height 6'6" Compare : Stele, relief sculpture, Example of propaganda because the ruler like the Stele of Hammurabi shows his power through divine authority, Naramsin art history research paper thesis example the main character due to his large size, depiction of land in background, etc.


Contrast : Akkadian art, made of limestone, the stele commemorates a victory of Naramsin, multiple figures are shown specifically soldiers, different area and time period, etc.




How to write a research paper (in history)

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Thesis Statement examples |


art history research paper thesis example

Even as writing in Art History aims at new ways of seeing, it avoids absolutist claims, remaining keen to the way objects always exceed meaning. Writers in the field will often begin a project with a sustaining question instead of a totalizing thesis. For example: “What makes this art?” “How is this work challenging conventions within its Oct 18,  · Thesis Statement, Outline, and Bibliography Examples. Example #1. Thesis Statement: Still life painting as a genre was popularized and developed in the Baroque era, when artists began to move away from painting overtly religious scenes and began incorporating observational painting and images of the natural world into their work A Short Guide to Writing About Art. Eighth Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, For more information about writing a formal analysis, see the handout titled “Writing an Art History Paper,” on the Writing Center Web site, or Sylvan Barnet’s A Short Guide to Writing About Art

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