The second method that would be helpful in learning how to approach art is stylistic analysis. This method builds off formal analysis to how a specific art piece fits within the wider genre in which it is included. Stylistic analysis assesses the expressive characteristics and importance of the work’ individual formal features. We are able to take the elements like line and color and see how it contributes to the overall message of the artwork. You can compare different artists and movements by highlighting similarities and differences in techniques and styles. We can also understand the context in which it was created such as cultural influences and historical events that shape an artist's style. It uses both qualitative assessment of formal analysis describing visual features and also quantitative assessment such as patterns and trends in artworks. To apply this, you must only look at the piece and tell what you see in terms of composition, without reading into it. The style is the art piece's artist, time, place, subject, mood, school, movement, training, and influence of a piece. As you grow in your art knowledge and seeing different varieties of art, you will start to recognize how different styles are grouped together, are very different, or how they compare to one another. Stylistic analysis is easiest to notice when comparing one artwork to one another, but can definitely be done with a singular piece!
This method serves as a great tool to understand how artworks communicate meaning and how they relate to the broader art history timeline. Knowing about the history of singular events are important, but it is so powerful being able to know timelines and see how everything links together. There are many art history movements that were started because of the things that were happening at the time, extremely talented artists, and the style movement that happened before. As Christians, we know the importance of reading both the Old AND the New Testament to see how God has had a plan throughout all of history bringing us to Himself in salvation. Knowing where we came from helps us to understand and see where we are going. The same goes with art - when we can see the past and the different movements and why they happened we can then understand why art is the way that it is now and where it is going. The evolution of style and the impact of artists and art on culture is so helpful to see how and why art is so important. Beauty shapes us as people and as a community and culture.
Here are some questions to ask:
-When was this piece created? Who was the artist? Who commissioned (asked) this piece to be made?
-How does it fit its period? How does it relate to the style of its historical period?
-How does it compare to other works? To works of the same subject matter, whether in the same style or not?
-What is the social and historical context? What was happening in the society of the artist at the time? What is happening in the wider history of the community, country, world?
-Is the style normal for its historical period or does it depart from the typical style?
-How are formal elements used? How is line, color, composition, material being used in this piece?
-How is the subject represented? Is it natural or abstract? Does it represent what it wants to well?
-How does the composition direct the attention? What is your eye drawn to? How does the layout help direct your attention?
-How does the scale affect the work? What is the size of the artwork? How does it affect its impact of the piece in the space that it is in?
You may read these questions and wonder - how will I find this information? We are blessed to live in an age where we have access to the Internet that a quick search can help us with! It is not bad to look things up when we do not know. It helps us to grow our knowledge base and learn!
Now that we have some questions and a basis of understanding stylistic analysis, lets take the 'Calling of Saint Matthew' by Caravaggio as an example. If you want to spend more time with this piece, please visit my blog post about this painting here.
Calling of Saint Matthew, Michaelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1599-1600. San Luigi dei Francesci, Rome, Italy.
-When was this piece created? Who was the artist? Who commissioned (asked) this piece to be made? This piece was created in 1599-1600. The artist was Caravaggio who is a very important figure at this time. The commissioner of this piece was Cardinal Francesco Del Monte, who was Caravaggio's patron at the time. He had connections at the church where this was painted in and helped him to secure the commission to paint a side chapel with paintings of Saint Matthew.
-What style is this piece? How does it relate to the style of its historical period? Knowing that this painting was done by Caravaggio, we know that it is the Baroque style. Caravaggio is one of the most important and famous figures of the Baroque artistic style. At the end of the 16th, beginning of the 17th century the Baroque style was starting to become very popular, so this is another clue that it is in this style. It fits well within this period because it is very dramatic, has lots of contrast with light and darkness, high emotional impact, rich, and dynamic movement.
-How does it compare to other works? To works of the same subject matter, whether in the same style or not? To the other works by Caravaggio it is very similar in style and what it is trying to do when you view it. They share in style and also how well done they are.
-What is the social and historical context? What was happening in the society of the artist at the time? What is happening in the wider history of the community, country, world? Nearly a decade before this was painted, a Cardinal had left money to this parish to have a chapel painted in his honor and in honor of his patron saint, Saint Matthew. The rest of the church was painted by another famous painter at the time, Cesari. It was only due to Caravaggio's patron Cardinal del Monte, the prefect of the Vatican's Church property, that he received this commission. This is important to note because it shows how there were several different people that influence what gets painted where and by whom. This period of time was where there were a great deal of money going into the arts and making beautiful churches. The Renaissance period was still going strong but morphing into the Baroque style of art, mostly in response to the Protestant Reformation that was happening in the mid-16th century.
-Is the style normal for its historical period or does it depart from the typical style? This style is very normal for its historical period, although this style was just beginning to emerge at this time.
-How are formal elements used? How is line, color, composition, material being used in this piece? The formal elements are being used to create a strong emotional and dramatic impact. The colors are darker, which makes it more powerful when the light is coming in from an unknown source. The composition is that 2/3 of the painting is the men at the table while 1/3 is Christ who is pointing at Saint Matthew. This makes us focus on the men at the table, while Christ is almost a second thought. The material being oil on canvas makes the colors be very smooth and look very natural.
-How is the subject represented? Is it natural or abstract? Does it represent what it wants to well? The subject is the men at the table, one of whom is Saint Matthew as well as Christ and Saint Peter. They are very natural and seem extremely lifelike. Caravaggio does a great job at representing them well as actual people. This is probably helped by the reason that Caravaggio used actual people that he took off the street to be his models. This makes the subjects seem like they could be someone you know, instead of a perfect person.
-How does the composition direct the attention? What is your eye drawn to? How does the layout help direct your attention? The composition directs the attention to the men at the table. With the light flowing in, my eye is immediately drawn to the older man that is pointing a finger that either is saying "Me?" or "Him?". This composition helps to bring up the question of who Saint Matthew is. The men at the table being the focus helps the viewer to focus on the men. Then my eye goes to Christ, who is really hidden. You know it is him by his halo and him pointing his finger out, calling. The hand looks like the hand of God in 'The Creation of Adam' in the Sistine Chapel and I think Caravaggio was attempting to do this.
-How does the scale affect the work? What is the size of the artwork? How does it affect its impact of the piece in the space that it is in? This painting is extremely large, at over 10 feet tall and wide. This makes it so you almost cannot look away. This artwork is on the left side of a side chapel in a church. There are two other paintings that are the same size, both by Caravaggio, on the other two walls. This painting is the most famous of the three and it has this impact because of the subject manner and how beautiful of a painting it is. The scale really helps it to command space in the chapel as well as let you see every detail of the painting.
Let us pray -
Lord, you are the creator of this universe, of time and of history. May we remember when we look at art that you were present in each moment of history, whether or not it was recognized or seen. When we recognize style, we recognize the work that you are doing in the hands of the artist and the movements of society, culture and the world. Help us to be a positive influence on the world around us that we may create beautiful things and inspire others to create beautiful things for the goodness of the world and for further glorification of you.
Amen.
Comments