Looking at Art
People create art for different reasons.
Some questions to think about:
• Why do artists create?
• Is there a “best” type of art?
• How do I teach my students to look at
art and value art?
People create for
many different
reasons.
• There is a human need to create.
• Art tells about stories, history and
religion.
• Artwork is created is express feelings.
• Art has functional considerations.
Four theories of Art
• Mimesis or imitation (realistic)
• Expressionism
• Formalism
• Instrumentalism or contextualism
Realistic artwork
is known as Mimesis
(imitation)
• People create art as a record of history.
• Art is made to make a statement about
an event.
• Artwork can inspire people to a greater
purpose.
Expressionistic
artwork
• Artists like to express their feelings in
their artwork.
• They have a unique way of seeing the
world.
• Some tried to show dreams or imaginary
places.
• Some believed that ideas and feelings
could be expressed by using only lines,
shapes and colors.