Art critic Beth E. Wilson is a prime example of a writer who knows how to capture the visual beauty of art through words. In her article 'Vanishing Point: Where Worlds Collide', she provides a stimulating description of the artist Yigal Ozeri's set of work. His paintings present human figures clothed in a fashion from the Renaissance, a number of which are hidden behind a foggy veil made from a layer of vanish and linseed oil [Wilson]. She states, "Ozeri bases these figures and fragments from old masters such as Cranach and Zurburan, evacuating much of the human form from the paintings, but leaving abstract architecture of their elaborate clothing and drapery, oddly preserving a human presence in the absence of the people themselves." [Wilson]
This short exert from Wilson's article holds some of the key aspects of lively descriptive language that succeeds in capturing the readers' attention for the rest of an article. For example she wrote
"... leaving the abstract architecture of their elaborate clothing...", instead of writing, "... leaving the unique design of their fancy clothing...". The vocabulary she uses to describe the forms and social content (the human figures, their presence, and lack of) within Ozeri's paintings better creates a visual image in the mind of the reader, as well as providing a 'voice' that the reader can follow. While she expresses her visual and mental views about his artwork, she is also building a foundation for the reader/viewer to build their own visual and mental connections to Yigal Ozeri's paintings.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
'Describing Art': Barrett Chapter 3 Description
In Barrett's chapter 3, 'Describing Art', he writes about the importance of using 'lively' descriptive language when critiquing and discussing works of art in order to captivate the readers attention. Having a detailed description of the visual and mental aspects of a piece of art can help the reader (and viewer) better understand what they are viewing, and your specific interpretation of the piece. Barrett emphasizes that what must be brought up while critiquing is how and what mediums are used, what forms are present in the image (abstract or realistic), and the subject matter. As you discuss these aspects it is important to use visual words like 'flowing' or 'radiant' while also using comparisons, cultural contexts, and personifications. By doing this, as a writer and a critic, you are able to illustrate the connections between each aspect of the art, allowing the viewer/reader to have a better understanding of the art and even a better grasp as to why or what feelings arose within themselves while observing the piece for the first time. Within chapter 3, Barrett provides numerous examples of criticisms about multiple pieces of art which greatly accomplish an effective criticism.
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