Discovery

Discovery

Monday, January 27, 2014

The Biography

The Biography

·      The most familiar way of grouping art is by artist.
o   “a Manet” emphasizes Manet over the art object.
o   It suggests an intimate and important connection between the maker and the made.
o   Implies the actual historical person matters.
o   How and why the person matters is what determines how and why the life is important.
o   Biographical associations should be examined closely.
·      There are numerous approaches.
o   Different historians write different kinds of studies.
o   The author’s life may be recounted in a time line.
o   Only the works are viewed to describe the talent.
o   Obstacles that were overcome may define the artist.
o   Unfinished works may be more important than finished.
o   Can be viewed by any one of numerous Critical Theories.
·      The approach can have a dramatic effect on how the art was viewed.
o   The meaning of Van Gogh’s paintings shift if viewed:
§  Strictly by his genius.
§  His mental and financial problems.
§  His suicide.
·      The intent is to provide suggestions/assumptions between the artist’s life and their work.

·      Biographical works should be interpreted and understood by the historians choices of interpretation.

dMunsterberg, Marjorie. "The Biography." n.p. n.d. Web. January 26, 2014. writingaboutart.org/pages/biography.html


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