Writing Homework Help

One of the big questions in the field of Rembrandt studies is simply: What is a Rembrandt? This exercise will allow you to consider this question, using two paintings from the collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario. One of the paintings is considered to be by Rembrandt, the other is held to be the work of someone in Rembrandt’s studio. These portraits were likely produced about twenty year apart, thus displaying different aspects of style and technique that were in use in Rembrandt’s studio practice. Unlike current definitions of artistic authorship, in the seventeenth century, any work that came out of the studio might have been considered to be a “Rembrandt.”

In this assignment, you will visit these paintings at the AGO website (the paintings have been sent to the exhibition at the National Gallery in Ottawa, and may not be re-installed in time for this course), and compare and contrast the ways in which these portraits were painted. A visual analysis is the starting point for any consideration of a piece of art. Simply put, it means that the viewer looks critically at all of the formal elements of the artwork and evaluates how these elements create an overall aesthetic experience. By looking carefully at the use of colour, line, shape, texture, balance, etc., the viewer begins to understand the unique nature of the composition, and identifies significant physical features that may contribute to further interpretation of the piece.

You will assume the identity of an art dealer, seeking to interest your client in one of these particular objects. You don’t want your client to be distracted by a poor quality photograph, so you will seek to capture their interest through words alone. Your writing must be clear, concise and persuasive.

Explain why you have decided to showcase one artwork over the other, and begin by describing them both as clearly and carefully as possible. You know that the collector will be interested in all of the details, including the following: the size and how the object was made (dimensions and technique); the materials used to create the piece, and why they are appropriate; the style of the artwork: shape, colour, line, space, surface, texture, etc.; the intended audience for this art (i.e. is this for general public display, or a special work for an individual?) and the basic subject of your artwork. Please do not include discussions of possible meanings or iconography (we shall look at the issues of interpretation later on).  For now, I wish you to concentrate on translating what you see into written language.  Please remember to use specific details from the artwork to support your ideas.

.

You should read over Sylvan Barnet, A Short Guide to Writing About Art, as well as the University of Toronto guidelines on academic writing:

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice

Rembrandt van Rijn,  Portrait of a Lady with a Lapdog         Studio of Rembrandt, Portrait of Seated Lady with a Handkerchief

Oil on canvas, ca. 1665                                                                   Oil on canvas, 1644?

81.3 x 64.1 cm (32 x 25 1/4 in.)                                                     124.5 x 100.3 cm (49 x 39 1/2 in.)

AGO, https://ago.ca/collection/object/54/30 (Links to an external site.)                                  AGO, https://ago.ca/collection/object/65/59 (Links to an external site.)