Religious Imagery Answers

The artist was Pablo Picasso. The title of the artwork is Guernica. The artwork was commissioned by the Spanish government to present at the World’s Fair.

This portrait is by Diego Velazquez called Philip IV on Horseback. Equestrian portraits became common because it was believed that leaders looked especially powerful atop a large, powerful beast (horse). In addition, equestrian portraits were another way to show a leader’s control, prominence, provide focus toward the leader being painted, and helped minimize any unattractive features that might be seen in frontals and profiles.

Social protest is anything that displays disagreement of a cultural practice, norm, or circumstance. Social protest is usually executed by the general population. It is intended to create awareness of an issues or several issues in order to increase support and further change. Political motive is what drives politicians and leaders to instill changes or take positions on subjects in order to further their power. Changes can be for the good of the people or only to further a person or group of persons political power. Its goal is to increase political power, and any other resulting accomplishments are considered a bonus.

Medium: Material of a work of art. Political power: An influence, usually political, or authority over others. Portrait: A likeness of someone,usually painted for purpose to memorialize the person.

Answers will vary, but must include a definition and a sentence. Propaganda: Something created to deliberately convince or influence people’s thoughts, opinions, and/or actions. Sentence Example: The American government commissioned works of art as a form of propaganda during WWII. Motif: A recurring element in a work of art. A single or repeated design or color. Sentence Example: The motif in the blanket design seemed to be that of geometric shapes.

This is a picture entitled, the Ruin’s of Gallego Flour Mills, Richmond. It records an event and exists as an allegory of the costs of the Civil War. This was created as a document the hardships of the Civil War, but its purpose has also become to commemorate the Civil War so that we can remember the people who suffered and the reasons why the war occurred.

A piece of art intended for documentation is a historical, factual account of a person, place, or event. A piece of art intended for commemoration is also a documentation, however its main purpose is to serve as a form of remembrance, or a memorial, rather than a historical documentation. Sometimes as time passes, historical events and/or people become increasingly appreciated by current cultures and/or generations, and therefore a piece that was originally a documentation, can become a memorial or visual remembrance as well.

Answers may vary, but should include at least 3 examples: Art can increase their political power and superiority; art can show the world a factual event, whether it be negative or positive; art can convey a message for social change; art can influence social change, either positively or negatively, art can spread an incorrect, but “preferred” history of an event in order to change people’s perspective.