5 ms·

Am not someone who can claim to "get" art. Is there some description someplace that will help interpret the work of art - for the one you've linked to, for exam

by msravi 10y ago

Am not someone who can claim to "get" art. Is there some description someplace that will help interpret the work of art - for the one you've linked to, for example?. A background of the context perhaps?

squeaky-clean 10y ago
Here's the page for that painting rather than the direct image link. Lots of notes there :) http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436535?sortBy=Relevance&ft=gogh&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=2 http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436535?sortBy...
- msravi 10y ago
  Thank you!
megablast 10y ago
Yes. There are lots of resources that help explain art concepts and particular paintings. Just google them.
mozumder 10y ago
Instead of going through historical academia to try and understand art, I would instead suggest exploring what's currently going on in the art world. Instagram has been absolutely great for understanding art as its happening right now. There are so many curators out there that'll help you "get" it. A few favorites: https://www.instagram.com/aureta https://www.instagram.com/aureta https://www.instagram.com/diaartfoundation https://www.instagram.com/diaartfoundation https://www.instagram.com/avant.arte https://www.instagram.com/avant.arte https://www.instagram.com/booooooom https://www.instagram.com/booooooom https://www.instagram.com/larryhofmann https://www.instagram.com/larryhofmann https://www.instagram.com/ignant https://www.instagram.com/ignant https://www.instagram.com/charlottedicarcaci https://www.instagram.com/charlottedicarcaci https://www.instagram.com/delpozo https://www.instagram.com/delpozo (and follow the people they follow as well to get the complete picture) If you understand why they do art now, you will understand why they did it 500 years ago.
hackuser 10y ago
> Am not someone who can claim to "get" art (All IMHO, and sorry if it states things you already know:) I 'get' art, and I'll say that 'getting' art is a misunderstood, over-emphasized concept. Find works that move you, that challenge your perspective. Who cares what everyone else thinks or likes? Find your art. Art is in the eye of the beholder; don't worry too much about the artist's intentions - they lost that control once they put it on paper - what does it mean to you, as it is right there at that moment? Art isn't some secret code that needs decoding; it is what it is, to you. Just to get your mind working on it; here are some questions to ask yourself and tips: * How does it make you feel? To really grasp art, bring the emotional part of you to bear - it's more far effective than the rational side in this regard. Then try to articulate it (which ties in the rational side). If I can't seem to get traction then I just think 'how do I feel?' - not even how does the object in front of me make me feel, but just 'how am I feeling?' - and often, presto, everything comes into focus. * Unlike real life, nothing in a work of art is accidental or gratuitous (unless it's intentionally that way!). Why is that red line there? What would a different red look like? A much thicker line? A less opaque one? Rotated 90 degrees? Or, why is it set on a sunny afternoon? What if it was cloudy? Nighttime? Moonlight and stars? * Often the most powerful question: What are the assumptions behind image in front of you? What didn't they paint (or sculpt, etc.)? If it's a Renior of nudes by a stream, the painting assumes there is beauty in pink flesh, in nature, a relationship between those two things, and it assumes there is no shame in it, no danger, but something positive. If a work of art makes me uncomfortable, that's a great starting point - what is making me uncomfortable? It's just an object; it can't do me any harm or do anything at all. Often the works that make me most uncomfortable at first - the ones I hate - are the ones that I love the most in the long run. The ones that bore me are the worst. Reading a book on art history can help you understand a lot of the context behind and specific images in the art (X was a big issue at the time, or image Y represented something in that culture), but IMHO it is much more valuable to read later, to learn something that enhances your burgeoning art appreciation rather than to learn about something you aren't familiar with in the first place. Just find what you love.
- richmarr 10y ago
  Perhaps this has already been done, but I'd be fascinated to see randomised controlled trials to test peoples enjoyment of art under different priming conditions, e.g. true/fictitious/absent information around description/background/value, social proof like crowds around particular pieces, etc.
austinjp 10y ago
A simple starting point for contemplating any art is to ask yourself the questions: What is the artist trying to say? Have they said it well? Was it worth saying? These are of course highly subjective. Your answers may be very different from those of others and even from the artist themselves. And that's fine. These questions can also springboard your curiosity if you allow it. What was the artist trying to say? How can I tell? What can I read to help understand the context within which the artist was working? This can be a lovely, deep, rich contemplation if you choose. You can set your own pace, and decide when you have had your fill.
- xherberta 10y ago
  Well said! An economist once argued that it would be worthwhile for museums to sell the bottom 1% of their collections (stuff that's destined to moulder in the archives and would never be displayed anyway) and set up trusts that would fund free admission. Then, people would feel freer to visit for just an hour and enjoy small tastes of art more frequently. (Unfortunately, selling anything is taboo in the world of art museums. This plan "can't" happen.) http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2015/05/michael_ohare_o.html http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2015/05/michael_ohare_o.htm...
  - garethsprice 10y ago
    Most museums offer annual memberships that are only 2-3x the cost of a single day ticket. I used to live within walking distance of MoMA and it changed my experience of art to be able to wander up and linger on a single piece or exhibit for long periods without worrying about "doing it all" in one day. Strongly recommend getting memberships to your local museums!

by msravi 10y ago

squeaky-clean 10y ago

Here's the page for that painting rather than the direct image link. Lots of notes there :) http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436535?sortBy=Relevance&ft=gogh&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=2 http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436535?sortBy...

msravi 10y ago
Thank you!

megablast 10y ago

Yes. There are lots of resources that help explain art concepts and particular paintings. Just google them.

mozumder 10y ago

Instead of going through historical academia to try and understand art, I would instead suggest exploring what's currently going on in the art world. Instagram has been absolutely great for understanding art as its happening right now. There are so many curators out there that'll help you "get" it. A few favorites: https://www.instagram.com/aureta https://www.instagram.com/aureta https://www.instagram.com/diaartfoundation https://www.instagram.com/diaartfoundation https://www.instagram.com/avant.arte https://www.instagram.com/avant.arte https://www.instagram.com/booooooom https://www.instagram.com/booooooom https://www.instagram.com/larryhofmann https://www.instagram.com/larryhofmann https://www.instagram.com/ignant https://www.instagram.com/ignant https://www.instagram.com/charlottedicarcaci https://www.instagram.com/charlottedicarcaci https://www.instagram.com/delpozo https://www.instagram.com/delpozo (and follow the people they follow as well to get the complete picture) If you understand why they do art now, you will understand why they did it 500 years ago.

hackuser 10y ago

> Am not someone who can claim to "get" art (All IMHO, and sorry if it states things you already know:) I 'get' art, and I'll say that 'getting' art is a misunderstood, over-emphasized concept. Find works that move you, that challenge your perspective. Who cares what everyone else thinks or likes? Find your art. Art is in the eye of the beholder; don't worry too much about the artist's intentions - they lost that control once they put it on paper - what does it mean to you, as it is right there at that moment? Art isn't some secret code that needs decoding; it is what it is, to you. Just to get your mind working on it; here are some questions to ask yourself and tips: * How does it make you feel? To really grasp art, bring the emotional part of you to bear - it's more far effective than the rational side in this regard. Then try to articulate it (which ties in the rational side). If I can't seem to get traction then I just think 'how do I feel?' - not even how does the object in front of me make me feel, but just 'how am I feeling?' - and often, presto, everything comes into focus. * Unlike real life, nothing in a work of art is accidental or gratuitous (unless it's intentionally that way!). Why is that red line there? What would a different red look like? A much thicker line? A less opaque one? Rotated 90 degrees? Or, why is it set on a sunny afternoon? What if it was cloudy? Nighttime? Moonlight and stars? * Often the most powerful question: What are the assumptions behind image in front of you? What didn't they paint (or sculpt, etc.)? If it's a Renior of nudes by a stream, the painting assumes there is beauty in pink flesh, in nature, a relationship between those two things, and it assumes there is no shame in it, no danger, but something positive. If a work of art makes me uncomfortable, that's a great starting point - what is making me uncomfortable? It's just an object; it can't do me any harm or do anything at all. Often the works that make me most uncomfortable at first - the ones I hate - are the ones that I love the most in the long run. The ones that bore me are the worst. Reading a book on art history can help you understand a lot of the context behind and specific images in the art (X was a big issue at the time, or image Y represented something in that culture), but IMHO it is much more valuable to read later, to learn something that enhances your burgeoning art appreciation rather than to learn about something you aren't familiar with in the first place. Just find what you love.

richmarr 10y ago
Perhaps this has already been done, but I'd be fascinated to see randomised controlled trials to test peoples enjoyment of art under different priming conditions, e.g. true/fictitious/absent information around description/background/value, social proof like crowds around particular pieces, etc.

austinjp 10y ago

A simple starting point for contemplating any art is to ask yourself the questions: What is the artist trying to say? Have they said it well? Was it worth saying? These are of course highly subjective. Your answers may be very different from those of others and even from the artist themselves. And that's fine. These questions can also springboard your curiosity if you allow it. What was the artist trying to say? How can I tell? What can I read to help understand the context within which the artist was working? This can be a lovely, deep, rich contemplation if you choose. You can set your own pace, and decide when you have had your fill.

xherberta 10y ago
Well said! An economist once argued that it would be worthwhile for museums to sell the bottom 1% of their collections (stuff that's destined to moulder in the archives and would never be displayed anyway) and set up trusts that would fund free admission. Then, people would feel freer to visit for just an hour and enjoy small tastes of art more frequently. (Unfortunately, selling anything is taboo in the world of art museums. This plan "can't" happen.) http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2015/05/michael_ohare_o.html http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2015/05/michael_ohare_o.htm...
- garethsprice 10y ago
  Most museums offer annual memberships that are only 2-3x the cost of a single day ticket. I used to live within walking distance of MoMA and it changed my experience of art to be able to wander up and linger on a single piece or exhibit for long periods without worrying about "doing it all" in one day. Strongly recommend getting memberships to your local museums!