Please help me with some resources:
The period of 1880-1914 constituted a significant moment in defining art and its function in society, as well a the role of the artist. Discuss these changing concepts and how the art produced from this era reflects these developments, paying particular attention to Post – Impressionism, French and German Expressionism, Cubism, and Futurism. Your response should refer to how subject matter, style, medium, and mood suggested these developments. Be sure to include specific works of art in your essay.
You may have to search and research, but once you learn some good sources and methods, you should have success. In addition to searching on the Internet, you also need to make best friends with the reference librarian(s) in your local or college library. Libraries these days subscribe to enormous research databases, and they are often usually more useful than Internet searches. Ask your librarian if you have access to EBSCOHost -- the absolute best!
For Internet searching:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/
At this webpage, you can go immediately to the search sites (first three columns across the top) -- or even better you can scroll down until you see the section called HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. Those are the links to start with. You'll not only learn how to come up with good search terms, but also how to evaluate the webpages you get as results. Some will be good and others will be garbage. You need to know how to tell the difference.
My favorite way to search is to go to Google's advanced search page http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en and put my search words or phrases into the first or second search box (either "all the words" or "exact phrase"). Another is to start out at http://scholar.google.com. However, there many other strategies for searching you can use, and the HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET section will help you best.
Learning to use Google or other search engines can save you time and help you learn to find information efficiently. Here are some websites that can teach you how:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/searchtips.html
http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/index.html
http://websearch.about.com/mbody.htm?once=true&COB=home&PM=112_100_T
... and one to help you judge whether a particular website's information is worth your time:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/evaluate.html
To answer this question, you will need to research and analyze various art movements and the specific works of art produced during the period of 1880-1914. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to approach this topic:
1. Start by understanding the historical context: Research the major events, social changes, and cultural shifts that occurred during the mentioned period. This will provide you with a broader understanding of the background against which art evolved.
2. Study the art movements mentioned in the prompt: Begin by researching Post-Impressionism, French and German Expressionism, Cubism, and Futurism. Understand their key characteristics, ideologies, and objectives. Look for reliable sources such as art history textbooks, scholarly articles, and reputable art websites.
3. Analyze subject matter: Once you have a grasp of the art movements, delve into their subject matters. Each movement had its unique focus and themes. For example, Post-Impressionism emphasized color and form, Expressionism explored emotions and the human condition, Cubism fragmented reality, and Futurism celebrated speed and technology. Look for specific artworks that exemplify these themes.
4. Consider style and technique: Investigate the styles and techniques adopted by artists within each movement. Analyze their use of color, brushwork, composition, and perspective. For instance, Post-Impressionist artists like Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne employed bold brushstrokes and vibrant palettes to express their emotions and subjective impressions. Similarly, Cubist artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque deconstructed forms and utilized multiple perspectives to represent the multidimensionality of objects.
5. Explore the medium and its significance: Consider the choice of medium employed by artists during this period. Did it influence the message conveyed? For example, Cubist artists often incorporated collage elements into their paintings, reflecting the fragmentation and reassembly of reality. Futurist artists experimented with new media forms, such as photography and sculpture, to capture the dynamism of modern life.
6. Examine the mood and atmosphere: Investigate how the selected artworks evoke specific moods or atmospheres that reflect the changing concepts of art and the role of the artist. For instance, the somber and emotionally charged works of German Expressionists like Ernst Ludwig Kirchner or Wassily Kandinsky's abstract compositions in his early expressionist phase demonstrate a departure from traditional notions of beauty and an exploration of inner emotional states.
7. Select specific artworks: Choose representative artworks from each of the mentioned movements that best illustrate the changing concepts and developments you have identified. It is crucial to highlight multiple examples to support your arguments effectively. Consider including key works like Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" for Post-Impressionism, Pablo Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" for Cubism, and Umberto Boccioni's "Unique Forms of Continuity in Space" for Futurism.
Remember to cite your sources properly and provide critical analysis throughout your essay. By following these steps, you should be well-equipped to discuss how these art movements and specific artworks reflect the changing concepts of art and the role of the artist during the period of 1880-1914.