Traveling deeply into the artist's world, you investigate the major genres of drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and painting. Signs and symbols: You learn how to recognize symbolism and signifiers in religious paintings, 'vanitas' still lifes, canvases of royalty, and seminal works by Gauguin and Dali. You discover compositional features such as symmetry/asymmetry, balance, and the visual framing of images, as keys to an artwork's comprehensive impact. Line: You investigate the artist's use of line (the basis of art) as it describes reality, conveys expressive meaning, and gives larger structural impact to an artwork.Ĭomposition: You learn how the artist constructs a work's overall composition in painting, graphic art, and sculpture. In building your viewing skills, the opening lectures give you practice with the core technical tools for understanding visual art:Ĭolor: You study the essential principles of color and color schemes in painting and graphic art and the distinctive use of color in different epochs, all of which are deeply integral to an artist's work. Using timeless masterpieces of Western painting, sculpture, and graphic art, as well as hands-on studio demonstrations, Professor Hirsh gives you the specific visual and interpretive knowledge you need to approach great artworks, find their deeper meanings, and reach startling new levels of appreciation. Unlike a traditional survey of art, these 36 richly illustrated lectures take you on an in-depth exploration of the practical skill of viewing art through the lenses of line, light, perspective, composition, and other crucial elements of craft and technique. What does it take to truly know what you're seeing when you look at art? What technical skills and knowledge are needed to comprehend the full richness of artworks, to unpack the hidden significance of master paintings, sculptures, prints, and more?Īward-winning Professor Sharon Latchaw Hirsh of Rosemont College speaks to these and other compelling questions in How to Look at and Understand Great Art. Filled with symbolism, cultural and historical references, and often visionary imagery, great artworks oblige us-defy us, even-to reckon with their many meanings. Great art is also complex, mysterious, andĬhallenging.

Few endeavors can equal the power of great artwork to capture aesthetic beauty, to move and inspire, to change your perceptions, and to communicate the nature of human experience.

Great art is among the most sublime, meaningful, and redeeming creations of all civilization.

It contains a full transcript of the series as well as the complete course guidebook which includes lecture notes, bibliography, and more. How Jesus Became God is the companion book to the audio/video series of the same name.

Bart d ehrman how jesus became god