Critiques
Chapter 1: 1. Mona Lisa is one of the most famous pieces of art work in the world. Leonardo da Vinci used a light and dark contrast in this portrait to achieve the emphasis of her mysterious facial expression. (Page 2). 2. The artwork of the “Kenyan woman” there was a variety of colors. The colors in this work portrayed the beauty in different cultures. The smile of the Kenyan woman shows that happiness is beauty. (Page 3). 3. This picture is of the Column of Trajan in Rome, Italy. The spirals on this piece of architecture portray the victories of Napoleon Bonaparte. The history and antiqueness of this column makes this picture beautiful. (Page 8).
Chapter 2: 1. Sol LeWitt’s “Lines from four corners to points on a grid” shows how even a line can make a piece of artwork. This piece of work portrays simplicity along with complexity with the use of lines. (Page 28). 2. Elizabeth Catlett’s “Sharecropper” shows the strength of an African American woman. The use of texture in this picture shows the harsh environment the woman was living in. The woman’s look shows her overcoming the hard times. (Page 33). 3. Jacob Lawerence’s painting “Harriet Tubman Series No. 4” portrays a sense of freedom. The people in his painting seem to be jumping and leaping for joy as they overcame an obstacle in their lives. (Page 35).

Chapter 3: 1. The artist Deliah Montoya’s artwork known as “Los Jovenes (Youth)” shows a bond of friendship. It portrays the culture and time period it was associated with by the graffiti on the walls. (Page 72). 2. Niki De Saint-Phalle’s artwork “Black Venus” shows that all shapes and sizes can beautiful. Her sculpture confronts all stereotypes of woman. It shows the confidence and strength of this woman. (Page 79). 3. This painting is called“The Family” produced by artist Alice Neel. They appear to be very unhappy family in this painting. There gestures and facial expressions show a sense of angriness. It looks like this was trying to be a family picture but this family picture seems to of gone wrong. (Page 88).
Chapter 4: 1. Roy Lichtenstein’s painting “Forget it! Forget me!” shows how society is today. You can tell by the man’s facial expression that he is fed up and the woman seems concerned and puzzled like she did not know what she did. (Page 92). 2. “American Gothic” painted by artist Grant Wood shows how people lived. The background shows a rural house that the couple lives in, and you can also see the barn. There facial expressions keep you wondering on what they are thinking. (Page 97). 3. Judy Pfaff’s artwork known as “Voodoo” was painted with many colors. The different colors and shapes in the picture create a masterpiece. This painting really stands out to ones eye. (Page 98).

Chapter 5: 1. Gary Kelley’s pastel “ Promotion for the Mississippi Delta Blues Festival” shows the beauty of music. All the detail and facial expressions of the people in this picture show how people really get into their music in this time period. (Page 107). 2. Adrian Piper’s drawing is called “Self-Portrait Exaggerating My Negroid Features”. This drawing emphasizes the features of an African American woman. Piper uses shading to put emphasis on the woman’s facial expression as she looks stunned. (Page 109). 3. Fang Lijun’s drawing known as “Ink-and-Wash-Painting No. 3 shows a man looking into the sun. It seems like the man is blinded by the light with his hands back. (Page 117).
Chapter 6: 1. Helen Oji’s acrylic painting “Mount St. Helens” has a variety of colors to show the volcano exploding. This image portrays the lava pouring out of a volcano as it explodes. (Page 129). 2. “Still Life, Tulips” is a watercolor painting done on paper by artist Emil Nolde. This painting represents the beauty of nature. The colors in this picture help express how beautiful nature can really be and that people really need to take the time to enjoy nature. (Page 131). 3. “Arcadia Revisted” is a spray paint on canvas done by artist Crash (John Matos). This piece of artwork looks very graffiti like. This picture portrays the energy of the era. (Page 132).
Chapter 7: 1. Artist Chen Xuhai’s artwork known as “Golden Autumn” seems very complex. This piece of artwork seems to be of an aging face. The lines on the face represent the wrinkles on a person’s face. (Page 138). 2. “The Mothers” done by artist Käthe Kollwitz emphasizes a mother’s love their child after a war. The facial expressions of the mothers and children seem to be very depressing, which gives this piece of artwork creates a sense of sorrow. (Page 145). 3. Edgar Degas’s masterpiece known as “The Ballet Master” shows a man teaching a woman ballet. It seems as if he is directing her as to what to do. This image seems to be a unique piece of art. (Page 147).
Chapter 8: 1. “Young Lady with an Umbrella” shows a woman enjoying the presence of nature. This photography really captures the beauty in nature with the beautiful fall leaves. (Page 155). 2. “The Brown Sisters” photographed by Nicholas Nixon portrays the beauty of sisterhood. This picture shows the true bond that comes with sisterhood. Nixon captured the love and affection that these woman have. (Page 156). 3. “Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California” captured by Dorothea Lange shows a woman with her three children. This woman appears to be a very hardworking woman that would do anything for kids. Her facial expression seems to be of desperation as if she is worn out. (Page 157).
Chapter 9: 1. “The Cross-Legged Captive” sculpted by artist Michelangelo is made of marble. This piece of work makes one look closer on its real meaning. When looking at this sculpture I feel as if the man is struggling to escape. (Page 179). 2. Po Shun Leong’s sculpture “Figure” shows great complexity. This sculpture has different shapes and patterns to create an image. When looking at this sculpture I do not really see a complete object it appears as a bunch of different objects to create a sculpture which is why it is probably called figure. (Page 184). 3. Willie Cole’s sculpture is called “House Pet”. This sculpture appears to be a bunch of shoes that resemble a house pet. This sculpture seems to be very unique and different than any other sculpture made. (Page 189).
Chapter 10: 1. Robert Smithon’s “Spiral Jetty” portrays the beauty of the great outdoors. The jetty seems to be a unique shape which makes this piece of work appear beautiful. The water in this artwork has such a beautiful blue color to it. (Page 197). 2. “The Ice Cube Project” done by artist Marco Evarisitti is unique. All the icebergs are white then that one red iceberg stands out from all the rest. The red iceberg draws your eye to it when looking at this work of art. (Page 198). 3. Olafur Eliasson’s artwork is known as “The New York City Waterfalls, Brooklyn Bridge”. When looking at this picture one just wants to go there to experience the beauty. (Page 205).
Chapter 11: 1. The “Hypostyle Hall, Temple of Amen-Re” is in Karnak, Egypt. This temple portrays the beauty of architecture in different cultures. The columns have marks on it from the antiqueness of this piece of architecture, which portrays the beauty of history. (Page 216). 2. “Baumraum” is a piece of word architecture. It appears as if this tree house was hand-made. The “Baumraum” looks very complex and beautiful with the light shining on it and trees all around it. (Page 219). 3. Gustave Eiffel is an artist of a well-known piece known as the “Eiffel Tower”. The Eiffel Tower stands in Paris, France. This piece of architecture is famous throughout the world for its complex design. The lighting in the background of this picture really makes the beauty of the Eiffel Tower stand out. (Page 222).
Chapter 12: 1. Jennifer Mccurdy’s artwork is known as “Coral Nest”. This piece of artwork is a type of ceramic that has an odd shape. However, this odd shaped object is a masterpiece in the art world. (Page 238). 2. Robert Arnerson’s “Jason Pollock” is a very interesting piece of artwork. The facial expression of this man reflects a sense of emptiness. It seems as if he is feeling a sense of sorrow. (Page 239). 3. “Ceremonial feathered basket with bead and shell pendants” demonstrates the exquisiteness of different cultures. This ancient craft is very unique with all the different colors. (Page 247).
Chapter 13: 1. “Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain” is an example of the monuments during the New Stone Age. This monument appears to be arranged oddly. It shows that people of this time were very creative with the type of art they make. (Page 272). 2. “Processional frieze from the royal audience hall” portrays the ancient art of the Persians. This piece of artwork looks very detailed especially the men’s attire which portrays their Persian culture. (Page 277). 3. The “Statue of Khafre” portrays power in Cairo, Egypt. The statue exhibits nobility. It has great detail and is very complex which helps portray the pharaoh’s authority. (Page 279).
Chapter 14: 1. “Geometric krater from the Dipylon cemetery” is a piece of artwork made in Athens, Greece. This vase is very detailed and elaborate with its geometric symbols. It shows a great variety of style in this time. (Page 296). 2. “Dying Warrior” is sculpture made in west pediment of the Temple of Aphaia at Aegina, Greece. This sculpture shows a warrior who has been struck by a spear in his chest. However, his face seems to be expressionless. (Page 300). 3. “The Three Goddesses” is a marble sculpture from the east pediment of the Parthenon. The drapes just fall over the goddesses which gives this sculpture texture and a great amount of detail. (Page 305).
Chapter 15: 1. “Justinian and Attendants” is a mosaic from the Church of San Vitale, in Ravenna, Italy. Detailed patterns and shadowing are used greatly throughout this mosaic. This piece of work portrays Justinian as holy as Christ and the people around him are the attendants. You could see this by their attire they are wearing; Justinian has a hat on his head that resembles a halo while the attendants do not have a hat. Therefore, this helps symbolize his godliness. (Page 331). 2. “St. Mark’s” is a place of worship in Venice, Italy. It has colorful mosaics and a variety of patterns throughout the interior. The architecture of St. Marks helps represent the beauty of faith. (Page 333). 3. “The Annunciation to the Shepherds” is from the Lectionary of Henry II. The angel appears bigger which symbolizes their power. It seems as if the angel is telling the shepherd what to do by looking at their gestures. (Page 348).
Chapter 16: 1. “May from Les Très Riches Heures” is painted by the Limbourg Brothers. There is use of a wide variety of color. The people in this picture look as if they are attending a show. The people’s outfits are dress-like with vibrant patterns on it. This painting represents medieval times. (Page 359). 2. “Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride” is an oil painting by Jan Van Eyck. The couple is receiving their marriage vows. However, there facial expressions do not seem like they are happy about getting married. (Page 361). 3. “The Peasant Wedding” is an oil painting by artist Pieter Bruegal the Elder. This painting portrays the wedding of the peasants. There is a bunch of people all in one room and they are all sitting at one long table. This painting helps symbolize the beauty of marriage that it is not all about the fancy materialistic things. (Page 384).
Chapter 17: 1. “The Ectasy of St. Theresa” is a sculpture in the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome. It appears as if the angel is stabbing a woman with her arrow. The woman looks as if she is pain by looking at her facial expression. This sculpture makes you question why an angel would be stabbing someone. (Page 394). 2. “Judith decapitating Holofernes” is an oil painting by artist Artemisia Gentilesoni. This painting is very vivid with its detail. Especially when looking at the woman slashing Holofernes’ neck. The women look as if they have no remorse while doing this act. When looking at his facial expression you can obviously tell he is in pain and is suffering. (Page 396). 3. “Suasannah and the Elders” is an oil painting. This painting is done by artist Artemisia Gentilesoni. The woman looks as if she is frightened for her life. By looking at the man’s gestures you can see that he is telling her to be quiet. This painting reveals that the two men have done something terrible to her. (Page 399).
Chapter 18: 1. “Altar of the Hand and Arm” was made in Benin, Nigeria. This piece of art was made in 17th-18th century. It is made of a beautiful bronze. “Altar of the Hand and Arm” has many figures on it which symbolizes the African culture. These figures look as if they are working and worshiping the king. (Page 416). 2. “Ancestral figure, Zaire” was made in the 19th-20th century. This piece of art was produced out of wood and brass. Zaire represents power in their culture, which makes this carving a very important piece of art. (Page 420). 3. “Kandariya Mahadeva Temple” in Khajuraho, India was built in 10th-11th centuries. This beautiful piece of architecture is so detailed. The temple is richly decorated with sculptures. It portrays the hardworking people who built this magnificent temple. (Page 433).
Chapter 19: 1. “The Oath of the Horatii” represents neoclassical painting done by artist Jacques- Louis David. When looking at this painting I see women that look terrified on the ground. It seems as if their significant others are the men fighting. This piece of art incorporates dramatic lighting with the use of shadowing. This draws more emphasize to the scene that is happening. (Page 442). 2. “Pauline Borghese as Venus” is a marble sculpture done by artist Antonio Canova. This woman portrays beauty and love as she’s gracefully holding her posture. (Page 444). 3. “The Third-Class Carriage” is an oil painting done by artist Honoré Daumier. This painting symbolizes the life of the peasants. The dark shadowing of this painting portrays the hard life these people have. The women appear expressionless as if they have had a long day. (Page 450).
Chapter 20: 1. “Dance around the Golden Calf” is oil painting done by artist Emil Nolde. This painting portrays people having fun and not caring what people think. The bright colors in this piece of artwork help portray the people’s enjoyment. (Page 478). 2. “The Old Guitarist” is an oil on canvas done by Pablo Picasso. The blue color of this painting portrays a sense of sorrow. The man appears to be hunched over with his eyes closed shut which helps portray the sense of sorrowfulness. This painting seems to have deep meaning to the artist’s life. As if he was going through a depressing time in his life. (Page 480). 3. “The Persistence of Memory” is an oil painting done by artist Salvador Dalí. It portrays a dream-like interpretation of the different objects. There are clocks that seem to be melting in this painting which help portray that a memory can be deceiving. There is great use of detail and shadowing in this painting that help put emphasis on the clocks melting. (Page 495).
Chapter 21: 1. “One” is an oil and enamel painting on canvas done by artist Jackson Pollock. This piece of art represents abstract painting. He uses a technique known as pouring and dripping. It seems as if he just splattered paint everywhere to create his piece of art. However, that’s not the case this artwork takes time and technique which then ends up being a masterpiece. (Page 504). 2. “The Dove” is a piece of art produced by artist Romare Bearden in 1964. This piece of art seems to resemble a collage. The pictures in “The Dove” seem to be randomly placed, however it takes a lot of imagination and technique to put them together to create a work of art. They symbolize a multi-cultured neighborhood and are good representation of our culture and origin. (Page 507). 3. “Figure with Meat” is a 1954 painting by artist Francis Bacon. He uses dark colors and even darker colors for the meat hanging in the background. The man is sitting between the two pieces of meat and he seems to be mysterious and creepy. (Page 508).
Chapter 22: 1. “The Burqa Project” is created by artist Jean-Ulrick Désert. It represents the tensions between Germany, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This piece of artwork is creative and powerful because of its meaning. (Page 542). 2. Miguel Luciano produced the creative piece of work known as “Plátano Pride”. It portrays the culture of Puerto Rico. It shows how different cultures take pride in what they do yet people stereotype them. The boy in this picture looks like he is proud of his culture. (Page 543). 3. “Shanghai World Financial Center” portrays the beauty of architecture in other parts of the world. This piece of architecture is in Shanghai, China and appears to be an extraordinary building. It represents the beauty of architecture while also having business powers. (Page 557).