AM071 How To Look At A Painting, The Representation Of The Artist In His Studio, History of Art

Session 1 Discover and Decipher Paintings

In this class we will go through some of the basic issues lying at the heart of deciphering the language of painting. How do we identify the main theme, how should we look for symbols, is there a message behind the general visual appearance? How can we ‘read’ the painting and tell the story behind it, the story it wants to tell? Moreover, what can we say about the style of the painter, and what is the relation between it and the art movement he belongs to? How deep does the ‘message’ go, how many layers of understanding are there?

Session 2

The Representation Of The Artist In His Studio

What are the major signifiers of this pervasive image, of the artist presenting himself to the world, in the intimacy of his studio? What is the message and how does it change throughout history of art? What does the painting say about the inherent myth of creation? Is there a persona the artist is trying to articulate?

Instructor: Cristina Vremes has a background in History of Art and Philosophy.  She holds a BA from University College London (UCL) and an MPhil from the University of Cambridge.  She has held a number of professional positions including the Saatchi Gallery and the Jeu de Paume Gallery.  She is an independent art writer with an emphasis on Renaissance Art, 17th century Dutch painting and Contemporary Art.