Gallery Nine Snapshot

Time to apply your art historian skills. Start by gathering the formal and contextual information of the provided works of
art.

121. The Coiffure

Mary Cassatt. 1890–1891 C.E. Drypoint and aquatint.

227. Summer Trees

Song Su-nam. 1983 C.E. Ink on paper.

248. Shibboleth
Doris Salcedo. 2007–2008 C.E. Installation.

When analyzing the artworks please provide a descriptive summary for each category.
Focus: What is the subject matter of the artwork?
Content: What are the prominent visual elements and materials that highlight the subject?
Function: How is the artwork used or displayed and for what purpose? What message is the artist sending?
Tradition: In what historical period was the artwork created and what influence would this have on the artwork?
What ceremonial use was involved, if applicable? What artistic tradition may have influenced the artwork?
Patron: Who made or commissioned this artwork? If a specific individual is unknown, then describe the culture it is
from.
Setting: What is the art historical setting? Describe the manner of display, including location, time period, and how it
would have been viewed by the intended audience.

Artwork Funky Caravaggio: Focus, Content, Function, Tradition, Patron, Setting

The Coiffure
F: the focus of this artwork is on the woman who is nude sitting down and adjusting her hair
while in front of a mirror. She also has a towel wrapped around her waist

C: the woman is sitting on a striped couch and fixing her hair. The room around her has
wallpaper on it and there is a mirror in front of her
F: the function of this artwork is to depict women performing daily activities. This artwork
also exhibits nudity in a different way as opposed to women standing in poses meant to be
sexual.
T: This artwork was made in 1890 and took inspiration from Japanese block prints both using
lighter colors. Because this is an impressionist painting the artist avoids the color black. This
was an impressionist painting showing more natural poses and features and creating a
natural aspect
P: This artwork is part of a 10-piece series made by Mary Cassatt. All of the works show
women engaging in daily taste and activities she was inspired by Japanese block prints. Four
of the artworks including this one use mirrors to enhance the artwork and give a sense of
space in the area.

S: This artwork was made in 1890 and is displayed is displayed in the National Gallery of Art in
Washington DC.
 Artwork Funky Caravaggio: Focus, Content, Function, Tradition, Patron, Setting
Summer Trees
F: the focus is on the vertical brush strokes in this artwork. The artist uses tones such as black
and gray to set the mood of the work

C: the tones and techniques used to create this result in an abstract-looking artwork with ink
drips and lighter and darker colors.

F: The function of the Summer Trees is to show the artist's skills in using ink on paper to make
trees abstractly. It makes the viewer feel tranquility and peace, with the use of soft colors
and organic shapes of the trees
T: this work was made in the modern art historical period and was meant to symbolize a
gathering of friends of upright character. The artist used materials like ink to express his
identity as korea because he felt that western materials did not represent him individually as
an artist
P: this artwork was made by a korean artist named Song Su Nam. this are work is deeply
rooted in his culture from the materials used to the actual artwork.
S: this work was made in 1979 by Song Su Nam it is now located in the National Museum of
Modern and Contemporary Art in south korea.

Shibboleth
F: the focus of this piece ith the big crack running throught the ground.

C: the crack is 548 feet long and varies in the size of the crack and the depth along different
parts of the crack
F: it is meant to represent borders and the experience of immigration especially from latin
american countries.
T: this shows the shared experiences of many immigrants coming to europe and represents
the physical and non-phyiscal divides between people
P: it was made by colombian artist Doris Salcedo who made this artwork about the immigrant
experience using her own trials and tribulations as reference
S: this artwork is in the Tate modern in London and was created in 2007 by doris salcedo

After you gather the formal and contextual information, analyze your research and respond to the questions.
Make Comparisons: Using contextual evidence, describe
similarities and/or differences in Summer Trees and
Shibboleth and how they are shaped by their purpose,
intended audience, or patron.
Analyze Cultural Influence: Using visual evidence, explain
how interactions with other cultures influenced the
creation of The Coiffure.
They use abstract techniques to represent a deeper
meaning rooted in the artists' personal experiences and
lives to promote cultural understanding among all people
and this theme is conveyed through their artworks. One
of the main differences between the two artworks is the
audience the artworks were intended for. Summer
Trees was created for a primarily Korean audience
because of its traditional Korean art forms, while
Shibboleth was created for a global audience which
addressed more contemporary political and social
issues.
The Coiffure was influenced by interactions with other
cultures, particularly Japanese art. The painting, which
depicts a woman sitting while styling her hair the work
features a lot of elements that conform with those of
Japanese woodblock prints. like the flatness of the
work, the use of bold outlines, and the emphasis on
patterns that all reflect Japanese traditions.

Analyze Meaning: Using visual and/or contextual
evidence, explain how each of the works of art are similar
and/or different in how they convey meaning.
The paintings are different in their materials, form, and
context, but have similarities with their use of visual and
contextual evidence to convey meaning. The Coiffure and
Summer Trees both depict everyday scenes using color,
composition and what is actually in the work to convey a
sense of beauty and calmness. Shibboleth is an
installation that creates an emotional reaction in the
viewer, symbolizing real experiences. Despite their
differences, all three artworks offer different perspectives
on the world.

Resources:
Khan Academy
Smart History
British museum
The MET

Please list all sources used outside of the course reading and CED framework. Your sources should include at least two
primary sources, like the artwork itself, firsthand accounts created by the artist, immediate audiences, or others. They
should also include at least two secondary sources, like journal articles, critical reviews, or museum interpretive
materials. Sources should be credible, please avoid personal pages, wikis, or blog posts.