You are required to select one work of art located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work of art must be within the period covered in Art History II from the Late Gothic/Early Renaissance to the Twentieth Century. If you select a work of art outside this range, the paper will not be accepted.

QUESTION

You are required to select one work of art located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work of art must be within the period covered in Art History II from the Late Gothic/Early Renaissance to the Twentieth Century. If you select a work of art outside this range, the paper will not be accepted.
Due to the closure of the museum, you will do a virtual assignment.

Go to: www.metmuseum.org. Search the Collection. Put in the name of an artist or period and click Search. Works of art will come up. Note: Any information taken from a source, must be cited.
Part I: General Information
a. In many cases, this information can be found on a label or in a gallery guidebook. Indicate where you found the information. (In this case, you will not see the label, but the information should be there).
b. Subject Matter (Who or What is Represented?)
c. Artist (What person or group made it? Sometimes this is not known. If there is a name, refer to this person as the artist, not “author.”)
d. Date (When was it made? Is it a copy of something older? Was it made before or after other similar works?)
e. Provenance (Where was it made? For whom? Is it typical of the art of the geographical area?)
f. Location (Where is the work now? Where was it originally located? Does the viewer look up at it, or down art it? If it is not in its original location, does the viewer see it as the artist intended? Can it be seen on all sides, or just on one?)
Part II: Brief Description
In a few sentences describe the work. What does it look like? What is shown? Is it an abstraction of something? Tell what the subject is and what aspects are emphasized. Is it a non-objective work? Tell what elements are dominant. This section is not an analysis of the work yet. This section is primarily a few sentences to give the reader a sense of what the work of art looks like.
Part III: Analysis of Style
This is the key part of your paper. It should be the longest section of the paper. Be sure to think about whether the work of art selected is a two-dimensional or three-dimensional work.
Art Elements
a. Line (straight, curved, angular, flowing, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, contour, thick, thin)
b. Shape (what shapes are created and how)
c. Light and Value (source, flat, strong, contrasting, even, values, emphasis, shadows)
d. Color (primary, secondary, mixed, complimentary, warm, cool, decorative, values)
e. Texture and Pattern (real, implied, repeating)
f. Space (depth, overlapping, flat, use of perspective)
g. Time and Motion (static, dynamic)
Principles of Design
a. Unity and Variety
b. Balance (symmetry, asymmetry)
c. Scale and Proportion (weight, how objects or figures relate to each other and the setting)
d. Mass/Volume (three-dimensional)
e. Rhythm (static or moving/flowing)
Part IV: Interpretation and Conclusions
This is the part of the paper where you go beyond description and offer a conclusion and your own informed opinion about the work of art. Any statements you make about the work should be based on the analysis under Principles of Design.
a. Discuss how and why the key elements and principles of art used by the artist create meaning.
b. Support your discussion of content with facts about the work.
c. Describe your personal feelings about the work of art (likes, dislikes)
General Suggestions
a. Pay attention to the date the paper is due.
b. Allow time to view the work of art you select to write about and take good notes while at the museum.
c. Always italicize or underline titles of works of art. If the title is long, you must use the full title the first time you mention it, but may shorten the title for subsequent listings.
d. Use the present tense in describing works of art.
e. Be specific: Do not refer to a “picture” or “artwork” if “drawing” or “painting” or “photograph” is more exact.
f. IMPORTANT: Any information you use from another source, whether it be your textbook, a wall panel, a museum catalog, a dictionary of art, the internet, must be documented with a notation. Failure to do so is considered plagiarism. Use Barnet’s Short Guide to Writing About Art, which is based on the Chicago Manual of Style, for correct format.
g. Allow time to proofread your paper.
h. Ask if you need help.
Requirements
1. Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Museum of Modern Art.
2. A museum receipt and a photograph of yourself at the museum must be obtained to verify attendance.
3. Visit www.metmuseum.org or www.moma.org for all museum information.

ANSWER

 Analysis of a Work of Art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh

Part I: General Information

1. The information for this analysis was obtained from the official website of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (www.metmuseum.org).
2. Subject Matter: “The Starry Night” depicts a nighttime landscape with a dominant swirling sky filled with stars and a crescent moon. The foreground features a small village and a cypress tree.
3. Artist: Vincent van Gogh, a renowned Dutch Post-Impressionist painter.
4. Date: “The Starry Night” was painted in June 1889, during Van Gogh’s stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. It is an original work created by the artist.
5. Provenance: The painting was created in France, reflecting Van Gogh’s experiences and observations during his time at the asylum. It is representative of Van Gogh’s unique style and artistic vision.
6. Location: “The Starry Night” is currently housed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. It is displayed at eye level, allowing viewers to experience the painting as intended by the artist.

Part II: Brief Description

“The Starry Night” is a highly recognizable painting characterized by Van Gogh’s distinct brushwork and bold use of color. The dominant feature of the artwork is the swirling sky, composed of thick, expressive brushstrokes that create a sense of movement and energy. The stars in the night sky radiate vibrant hues, contrasting with the deep blues and dark tones of the surrounding space (MoMA | Vincent Van Gogh. The Starry Night. 1889, n.d.). In the foreground, a small village with stylized buildings is nestled beneath the rolling hills. A tall, slender cypress tree stands prominently in the foreground, reaching towards the sky. The overall composition conveys a dreamlike and imaginative interpretation of the night sky.

Part III: Analysis of Style

“The Starry Night” is a two-dimensional painting that showcases Van Gogh’s mastery of various art elements and principles of design.

Art Elements

1. Line: The painting exhibits a combination of flowing, curved lines in the sky and more defined, angular lines in the village and cypress tree.
2. Shape: Van Gogh creates a sense of form through the arrangement of organic and geometric shapes, with the swirling sky contrasting with the angular shapes of the buildings.
3. Light and Value: The painting features a contrast between the bright, intense colors of the stars and the dark values of the night sky. The use of light emphasizes the celestial elements.
4. Color: Van Gogh employs a vivid color palette, including primary and mixed colors, to evoke an emotional response and capture the mystical atmosphere of the night.
5. Texture and Pattern: The thick application of paint creates visible texture on the canvas, enhancing the overall expressive quality of the artwork. Patterns are implied through the repetition of stars in the sky.
6. Space: Van Gogh creates a sense of depth through overlapping elements and the diminishing scale of the village structures, while the swirling sky appears flat (Art Elements & Principles – Clear Lake High School Art Department, n.d.).
7. Time and Motion: Although the painting represents a static scene, the dynamic, swirling brushstrokes convey a sense of movement and energy.

Principles of Design

1. Unity and Variety: The painting achieves unity through the consistent use of swirling lines and vibrant colors throughout the composition. Variety is achieved through the contrast between the sky and the village, as well as the different sizes and intensities of the stars.
2. Balance: The composition exhibits asymmetrical balance, with the weight of the swirling sky and the prominent cypress tree counterbalanced by the smaller village below.
3. Scale and Proportion: The village structures and the cypress tree are proportionate to each other and their surroundings, contributing to the overall harmony of the composition.
4. Mass/Volume: As a two-dimensional work, “The Starry Night” lacks physical mass but conveys a sense of volume through the illusion of form and space.
5. Rhythm: The swirling lines and brushstrokes create a rhythmic flow within the painting, enhancing the sense of movement and dynamism.

Part IV: Interpretation and Conclusions

“The Starry Night” reflects Van Gogh’s emotional and psychological state during his time at the asylum. The expressive brushwork and intense colors convey his personal experience and vision of the nocturnal landscape, evoking a sense of mystery and wonder (StevenY, 2023). The tumultuous sky can be seen as a reflection of Van Gogh’s inner turmoil and the cypress tree symbolizes the connection between life and death. The painting’s unique style and composition invite viewers to interpret its meaning based on their personal experiences.

In conclusion, “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh is an iconic artwork that exemplifies his innovative style and profound artistic expression. Through a careful analysis of the art elements and principles of design employed by the artist, one can gain a deeper understanding of the painting’s visual impact and the emotions it elicits. Van Gogh’s masterful use of color, line, and composition creates a compelling and enduring work of art that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

References

 Art Elements & Principles – Clear Lake High School Art Department. (n.d.). https://sites.google.com/a/clearlakeschools.org/art/art-elements-principles

MoMA | Vincent van Gogh. The Starry Night. 1889. (n.d.). https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/vincent-van-gogh-the-starry-night-1889/ 

StevenY. (2023, July 4). The Iconic ‘The Starry Night’: Exploring Van Gogh’s Visionary Artistry – Gold Spoon News. Gold Spoon News. https://goldspoonnews.com/the-starry-night/