For the discussion, you will identify a work of art to analyze and interpret.

Question

Remember, it is important to use credible sites as you research. A site is credible if it is reliable, accurate, and trustworthy. Use the Website Evaluation Checklist to evaluate all sites prior to using their artwork.

Select one work of art and share your interpretation. Post the artist, title, location of image, and your answer the following question: what feelings, moods, or ideas is the artist visually communicating?

Read a post by one of your peers. Look at the work of art he or she interpreted. Search by the artist or title, then comment on his or her interpretation. Was your impression similar or different? Give reasons to support your opinion.

Answer 1

Selected Work of Art

• Artist: Vincent van Gogh
• Title: Starry Night
• Location of Image: The Museum of Modern Art, New York City, USA

Interpretation

Vincent van Gogh’s "Starry Night," painted in 1889, is a swirling, dynamic depiction of the night sky over a quiet town. The vibrant blues and yellows, along with the expressive brush strokes, evoke a powerful emotional response.

The feelings communicated by Van Gogh center around emotion and turmoil juxtaposed with peace and solitude. The turbulent sky, filled with exaggerated swirls and bright stars, reflects the artist's inner turmoil, perhaps related to his struggle with mental illness. The village below, calm and serene, stands in stark contrast to the chaotic night sky. This duality may represent the balance between chaos and tranquility in life.

The painting evokes a sense of wonder and introspection. The stars can be seen as symbols of hope or aspiration, while the cypress tree reaching skyward speaks to a desire for connection between the earthly and the divine. The overall mood oscillates between melancholy and beauty, inviting viewers to contemplate their own feelings and experiences related to the vastness of the universe and their place within it.

Peer Interaction

After reviewing my peer's post on a different artwork, I found their interpretation of "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dalí to be quite intriguing. They highlighted the dream-like quality and the concept of time as fluid rather than fixed.

While I also felt that the work communicates a sense of surrealism and challenges our perception of time, my impression was slightly different. I focused on the emotional implications of our relationship with time and memory, seeing the melting clocks as a representation of the anxiety related to the passage of time and how it can distort our memories. In contrast, my peer seemed to emphasize the more philosophical aspects of the painting, discussing how it reflects the subconscious mind.

Overall, our differing interpretations reveal the richness of Dalí's work—where one may see emotional depth, another might find intricate philosophical musings. This divergence highlights the power of art to elicit a range of responses and thoughts, making each viewing a unique experience.

Answer 2

please make it more like a fourteen years olds work

Answer 3

Selected Work of Art

• Artist: Vincent van Gogh
• Title: Starry Night
• Location of Image: The Museum of Modern Art, New York City, USA

Interpretation

Vincent van Gogh’s painting "Starry Night" is one of his most famous works. It shows a swirling night sky filled with bright stars and a peaceful town below. The colors are super vibrant, using lots of blues and yellows, which really catch your eye!

When I look at "Starry Night," I feel a mix of emotions. The chaotic sky makes me think about how sometimes life feels really confusing and overwhelming, just like the swirls in the painting. But the quiet village underneath looks calm and safe, which gives me a sense of peace. This makes me think that even when things seem crazy, there’s still a place where we can feel at home and relaxed.

The stars in the sky look huge and shining, almost like they’re full of hope. This could mean that even though we have tough times, there are always bright moments to look forward to. The tall cypress tree in the painting reaches up towards the sky, and it feels like it’s trying to connect with something bigger than us, maybe even a spiritual connection.

Overall, "Starry Night" expresses feelings of both confusion and calmness, and it encourages us to think about our own feelings when we look at the night sky. It’s like Van Gogh is sharing a piece of his heart with us through his art.

Peer Interaction

I read my peer's post about "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dalí, and I found it really interesting! They talked about how the painting looks dream-like and how it messes with our idea of time with all those melting clocks.

I agree with them, and I think that the melting clocks show how time can feel slow or fast, depending on what we’re going through. But what stuck out to me was how the painting also made me feel anxious about time and how it can change our memories. While my peer focused on the dream-like quality, I saw it more as a reminder of how precious our memories are.

So we both noticed different things, but that shows how art can mean so many things to different people! It's pretty cool to think about how everyone sees things in their own way.