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Summary Pop-life in History of Art
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Summary of 9 pages for the course Periods at PEARSON (Notes on Pop-life)
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WLFS History of Art 22.23 (Michelmas 1)Pop Life Paragraphs (JBA): Insert what you have written on the artists into each section.
(This will then later be used for your revision to turn into bullet points.)
Remember: the key question is why are these works significant?
Your paragraphs on each artist should always contain:
1. Overview of artist’s practice / where does this work fit into their career?
2. Context to work and the Pop Life Period
3. Visual Analysis
4. Why is the work significant within the History of Art
5. Quote and reference
1 Pop Art Definition + Andy Warhol (200 words)
Andy Warhol’s ‘Marilyn Diptych’, 1962 demonstrates the popular culture that had
influence the Pop Art movement. It also was a reaction to the moody and depressing
abstract expressionism whereas Pop art was depersonalised, objectified and
representational work. There were also two types of Pop Art, one in America about
America and one in Britain about America. The ‘Marilyn Diptych’ was silkscreen on
canvas, which he radicalised the art market. This was because it was the same image of a
portrait that was printed repeatedly, which was unusual at that time. 25 of the images
are monochrome whereas the other 25 have colour. However, they were unified with a
final layer of black. Instead of a crisp print, he had made sure that the fading and leaking
of ink was a deliberate choice. Andy Warhol was obsessed with celebrities and infatuated
with movie stars, and Marilyn was a Hollywood icon. She was usually seen everywhere in
the media and the diptych shows the oversaturation of her presence everywhere. This
could also be seen as silkscreen was a repetitive process, which was unique. In addition,
this was able to immortalise Monroe as the sex symbol. This could almost be seen as a
mechanical, which Walter Benjamin states that it was ‘art in the age of mechanical
reproduction.’ The idea was that society was becoming more mechanical. It also explains
how Warhol was removing himself from the artistic process. What’s more is that Marilyn
Monroe was never her actual name, and therefore, both artists were alike. They
transformed themselves allowing to make each other famous. Warhol understood the
superficial nature of beauty and celebrity.
The idea is not to live forever, it is to create something that will
“Every time an artwork is reproduced its aura disappears” – Walter Benjamin,
Mechanical of Age of Reproduction
2 Minimalism definition + Carl Andre (200 words)
In Minimalism, it refers to painting or sculpture made with an extreme economy of means
and reduced to the essentials of geometric abstraction. Carl Andre’s Equivalent VIII 1966
is firebricks arranged horizontally in the shape of a rectangle on the floor. The formation
shows the systematic rigour and approach to making it. It is made up of 120 readymade
firebricks that have not been joined together but rather placed together neatly. The name
of the art piece was influenced by Alfred Stieglitz’s Equivalent series, which is what the
series was named after. It also relates to the arrangement of bricks as they stayed
consistent. He was influenced by Brancusi in carving in wood but refrained from doing it
since he wanted the viewer to consider and appreciate the materials for what they are,
which is unadulterated and essentially the essence of minimalism.
3 Hockney (Specified Artist) (750 words) (2 artworks)
David Hockney’s Sunbather depicts a nude man besides the pool laying on his front at the
, top of the canvas. Furthermore, the stylised ripples on the water create a sense of
movement and energy. The ripples also give the impression that the water is not realistic.
The use of blue and lack of perspective creates a playful, optimistic atmosphere. At least
70% of the painting is in a square format. The nude male represents the sensuousness and
luxury of California, and his constant depiction of swimming pools became a symbol of
the hedonistic, sexually free lifestyle he led in L.A. In addition, the reason as to why
Hockney loved to use bright colours was because to him “bright colours drag you in.”
Additionally, the figure could be described naturalistic since it has clearly been defined
through modelling. The angle of the figure gives a dynamic quality to a certain stillness of
the painting. And since the figure is slightly red, the grass in the background acts as a
complimentary colour to the figure. The foreshortening of the limbs is a reference to
Mantegna’s ‘Lamentation of Christ’. He took a queer take on traditional depiction of
bathers, which was popular in artworks during the 19th and 20th century as seen in the arts
by Cezanne and Matisse. Hockney has also kept details as simple as possible. For
example, the paving stones are simplified into black colours. It also seen in the simple
block lines on top of a fade, making it look graphic. However, the subject matter was
controversial since the main focus was the swimming pool and not the nude figure. In
addition, the reason as to why Hockney loved to use bright colours was because to him
“bright colours drag you in.”
Composition – the figure is only in 20% of the painting
Juxtaposition between the two styles
o Naturalistic but also stylistic since it is clear cut (body) vs the pattern in
the pool that signifies water but is not an accurate depiction but is clever
since we associate it to water – simplified drawing water to maximum
effect
Sexy image – nude male
o Not new to be naked but the way male figure is presented
Work is quite graphic – bold colours, simplifying shape painterly close up
Clear distinction of space
Early Renaissance Italy: Clearly delineated but also the figures are simplified and
naturalistic
‘Only a foreigner could have come up with such an affectionate image of the
blank good life under the Californian sun’ – Shock of the New, Robert Hughes,
1980
My parents depict his parents with different responses and attitudes to being painted.
For instance, his mum is seen clearly to be wanting to be there and being part of the
painting whereas his father is focused on reading a book photography – so not interested
in being part of the painting. Despite their opposing approaches to the sitting, Hockney
also creates a conjunction between the couple through their identical folding chairs and
feet placed on the same rug as if it were an island floating in space. This is suggestive of
their love for each other and so adds an emotional aspect to the painting as well as
capturing the personality of his parents. In the mirror, the reflection of Piero della
Francesa, which has a structed composition and bold, bright colours, with the Tuscan
landscape in the background, as though he was alluding to the generic LA landscape that
could be seen in his paintings. The use of art historical references also includes
autobiographical elements that are subtle that are suggestive to his influences. Which
summarises his interests in art history as he feed it into all his works. At the bottom of
the green table shelf, is book about Chordin. This could be alluding yet again to another
of his influences. Which would be the carefully balanced compositions and a soft
diffusion of light, echoed in the purity and simplicity of Hockney's paintings. The portrait
was painted through the combination of drawing from life and photography. In an
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