Art History and Literature Notes

Artworks

  • Arnolfini Portrait: This refers to the painting by Jan van Eyck, a significant work of the Early Netherlandish period, known for its detailed realism and symbolism.

  • Adam and Eve: Likely refers to the depiction of Adam and Eve in various artistic forms, often relating to the biblical story of the Fall of Man. Notable examples include works by Albrecht Dürer.

  • The Birth of Venus: Sandro Botticelli's famous painting depicts the goddess Venus emerging from a seashell, a quintessential image of the Italian Renaissance.

  • Carson, Pirie, Scott Building: An iconic department store building in Chicago, designed by Louis Sullivan, showcasing early modern architecture (also known as Sullivan Center).

  • David: Most likely refers to the statue of David by Michelangelo, a masterpiece of the High Renaissance, symbolizing strength and human perfection.

  • Doryphoros (The Spear Bearer): A sculpture by Polykleitos, a renowned classical Greek sculptor. It exemplifies the canon of proportions and symmetry.

  • Goldfish: Could refer to various artistic representations of goldfish, potentially symbolic in different cultures.

  • Great Serpent Mound: An effigy mound in Ohio built by ancient indigenous peoples of North America, representing a large serpent.

  • Lamassu: Ancient Near Eastern protective deity, often depicted as a winged bull or lion with a human head, commonly found in Assyrian palaces.

  • Les Demoiselles d'Avignon: A groundbreaking painting by Pablo Picasso, considered a proto-Cubist work, radically departing from traditional artistic representations.

  • Lindisfarne Gospels: An illuminated manuscript of the Gospels produced in the early 8th century, representing a pinnacle of Insular art.

  • Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks: A pop art sculpture by Claes Oldenburg, commenting on war and consumerism.

  • Mosque of Cordoba: A historical mosque in Cordoba, Spain, showcasing Islamic architecture and design. Known for its hypostyle hall with rows of columns and arches.

  • Navigational Chart: Historical charts used for maritime navigation, demonstrating early cartography and exploration.

  • Nkisi n'kondi: A power figure from the Congo region, often a wooden figure studded with nails or blades, believed to contain spiritual power.

  • Slave Ship: Refers to various artistic depictions of slave ships, often highlighting the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade. The most famous example is J.M.W. Turner's Slave Ship.

  • The Steerage: A photograph by Alfred Stieglitz, considered an early example of modernist photography, capturing social divisions.

  • Stele of Hammurabi: A basalt stele inscribed with the Code of Hammurabi, an ancient Babylonian legal code.

  • The Swing: A rococo painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, emblematic of the frivolity and sensuality of the French aristocracy.

  • Transformation Mask: Masks used in various indigenous cultures, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, that transform to reveal different aspects or spirits.

  • Two Friedas: A painting by Frida Kahlo, portraying her dual heritage and emotional pain.

  • Woman Holding a Balance: Often refers to paintings by Johannes Vermeer, exploring themes of justice, balance, and wealth.

  • Yaxchilan Temple: Refers to the Mayan ruins of Yaxchilan, known for its well-preserved temples and intricate stone carvings.

  • Object: This may refer to Meret Oppenheim's fur-covered teacup, a key surrealist piece, which is an every day object transformed to something bizarre.

  • Parthenon: A temple on the Athenian Acropolis, dedicated to the goddess Athena, symbolizing classical Greek architecture and democracy.

Literature Works

  • Analects: A collection of sayings and ideas attributed to the Chinese philosopher Confucius.
  • Antigone: A tragedy by Sophocles, exploring themes of civil disobedience and moral conflict.
  • Candide: A satirical novella by Voltaire, critiquing philosophical optimism.
  • Don Quixote: A novel by Miguel de Cervantes, considered one of the greatest works of Spanish literature.
  • Federigo's Falcon: A short story by Giovanni Boccaccio, part of The Decameron, focusing on themes of love and sacrifice.
  • The Fisherman and the Jinnee: A tale from One Thousand and One Nights, exploring themes of trickery and fate.
  • The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World: A short story by Gabriel García Márquez, representing magical realism.
  • The Inferno: The first part of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, depicting a journey through Hell.
  • Li Po to Tu Fu (Humorously): A poem reflecting the friendship between the two great Tang dynasty poets.
  • Prayer to the Masks: A poem by Léopold Sédar Senghor, celebrating African heritage and identity.
  • The Second Coming: A poem by William Butler Yeats, reflecting a sense of apocalyptic foreboding.
  • Siddhartha: A novel by Hermann Hesse, exploring spiritual enlightenment.
  • Sundiata: An epic of the Malinke people, recounting the story of the founder of the Mali Empire.
  • Things Fall Apart: A novel by Chinua Achebe, depicting the impact of colonialism on Igbo society.
  • Two Friends: A short story by Guy de Maupassant, portraying the senselessness of war.

Art and Literature Terminology

  • Aphorism: A concise statement of a principle. Example: "The pen is mightier than the sword".
  • Autobiography: An account of a person's life written by that person.
  • Expressionism: An artistic movement emphasizing subjective feelings and emotions.
  • Frontispiece: An illustration facing the title page of a book.
  • Improvisation #28: Wassily Kandinsky's abstract painting, reflecting spontaneity and emotion.
  • Justinian Mosaic: Mosaics in the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, depicting Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora, showcasing Byzantine art. Common example of Byzantine art.
  • Novel: A long narrative, typically in prose, describing fictional characters and events.
  • Play: A dramatic work intended for performance on stage.