Go Figure--Artists explore the human body in their art .

 Throughout history, artists have sought to capture and study the human figure.  Leonardo Da Vinci filled his sketchbooks with intricate drawings of muscle details and bones to understand the human body even better.

Prize Vessel from the Athenian Games 340 - 339 B.C. People have been the subject of art. These artworks can tell a story or about a moment in history.  These ancient artifacts tell us about people from the past. Artist George Seurat used dots of paint to create people on a Sunday afternoon.  Where might you find people to draw or paint? Keith Haring brought joy to the human figure as in these dancing figures in his untitled artwork. But Keith also used his art to bring attention and awareness to important issues in his lifetime, like AIDS.  Think of how you might use your art to help people understand something you are passionate and care about.  Henri Matisse created both collage and paintings of the human body. In a seated pose and here in an action pose. Think of the studios where you could create the likeness of a person. flying lessons Baby Guerrilla2014/2014 Let’s look at a few more art examples where  humans are  the subject. Jacob Lawrence, Play                                                                                                    Jacob Lawrence, The Builders (Family) African American artist Jacob Lawrence included people in his art. A family walk or children at play. what fun activities might you draw including people you know?

Artist Deborah Roberts uses Collage to create images of people. Maybe you will create art that resembles you.  Deborah grew up seeing art that didn’t look like her and she made it a goal to create art about Black people.  

President Barack Obama by Kehinde Wiley and First Lady Michelle Obama by Amy Sherald

Sometimes artists make portraits of famous or important people and in this case the honor of painting a portrait of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.  Which well-known person would you like to create a portrait of? 

Alberto Giacometti, Man Pointing                                        Alberto Giacometti,Falling Man  L’Homme qui marche

                                                                   

Alberto Giacometti spent over 40 years studying the human figure.  He is known for these slender sculptures of humans in action; walking, pointing, even falling.  

EDGAR DEGAS

Little Dancer Aged Fourteen

You might recognize this dancer by Edgar Degas.  We have one of his Little Dancer sculptures in our St. Louis Art Museum.

Edgar studied ballet dancers and their movements to create many works of art both 3D and 2D.  Do you notice pencil marks?

Your Turn!

(*2:14)