The Human Figure in Art

Communicating our ideas about individuals & human nature

How to structure your notes:

• Title page 1 “Elements of Art”

• Skip 1 page

• Title page 3 “Principles of Art”

• Skip 1 page

• Title page 5 with today’s lecture subject

“The Human Figure in Art” and write down all other vocabulary/discussed ideas

Through art, different cultures communicate their ideas of the

individual & humanity

What do you think the artist was trying to say about humanity here?

Idealized Humanity & Body:

• Shows humanity and the body at its best

• IMPORTANT! Different cultures have different ideas about what is a perfect body and why.

Akuaba Figure, 1800-1900

Ghana (Africa):exaggerates the

ideal of high, oval foreheads; delicate

mouth; fat necks

Venus Before the Mirror. Peter Paul Ruben. Europe,1615

Full figures represented wealth & luxury and were therefore beautiful.

Japanese Anime: list what you think they might

consider beautiful in this culture!

What is being communicated here?

Less than Perfect Humanity

• Humanity is imperfect

• Should strive toward perfection

What about here?

Self & Surroundings: How we create images of bodies to

express larger ideas & inner emotions

What could THIS be about?

Body Alteration: Maori Tattoo

• Line: element of art

Our Figure Drawing Project:

• Uses 2 artists as inspiration who use the human figure in their artwork but in completely different ways.

• Combines several elements & principles of design together.

Figure Drawing:uses the human form as the main

subject matter

Henri Matisse

• 1869-1954

• French artist best known for his bright paintings

• His paintings had many flat shapes, outlines and expressive colors (non-realistic)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fb/Matisse-Woman-with-a-Hat.jpg

Shape:(element) area closed off by a line

Pattern:(principle) repeated elements to

increase surface texture

Picasso

• 1881-1973

• Spanish painter best known for inventing “Cubism”

• Could paint VERY realistically & also expressively

• Paintings had flat shapes and natural colors

Contour Line:(element) outside edge of an object

Cubism:

• Invented mostly by Pablo Picasso

• Parts of objects & the figure are broken up and investigated individually

• Influenced by African Masks

Picasso’s artwork

Value: (element) how light or dark

something is

Rhythm: (principle) repetition and variety of

elements

Wrap up questions

1. Artists haven’t been using images of the body for very long in history. T or F

2. When we make art that incorporates the physical body, we can communicate our ideas of humanity. T or F

3. Artists make art that is about and for their cultures. T or F

4. Artists are not influenced by anything outside of themselves. T or F

Answers

1. FALSE: Artists HAVE been using images of the body for very long in history.

2. TRUE: When we make art that incorporates the physical body, we can communicate our ideas of humanity.

3. TRUE: Artists make art that is about and for their cultures.

4. FALSE: Artists ARE influenced by anything outside of themselves.