The Human Figure in Art

WebQuest

Designed by Vicki Wilson at Cherokee High School

Marlton, NJ  

Introduction  |  The Task  |  Resources  |  The Process  |  Learning Advice   |  Grading  |  Conclusion 

Introduction 

Artists have drawn, painted and carved the image of the human figure since ancient times.  Painters throughout history have painted the portraits of kings, queens, and religious leaders,  just as cavemen used charcoal to create images of themselves on cave walls.  The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, as well as artists of the Renaissance, created the human figure for various reasons.  The tombs of the ancient Egyptians are filled with rigid human form while the Renaissance sculptures show motion of the human figure.   

Artists from different cultures and time periods throughout history have depicted the human figure in many diverse  ways.  What materials did they use?  Why did some artists paint realistically while others preferred abstraction?    What was Michelangelo thinking as he carved "David"?  What did Rodin use as his inspiration to sculpt "The Thinker"?  Are the two artists connected?   In this WebQuest you will discover the answers to similar questions as you research artists and observe how they depicted the human figure in their art work.  

The Task 

1. Your job is to research an artist and one work of art by the artist.  You will use the Resources in this Web Quest to find a work of art by the artist you are assigned that contains one or more human figures.  Your artist will be assigned  randomly from the list in the PROCESS section. 
2. You will then research your artist, write one description article (describing one work of art by your artist),  and two (3 for extra credit) interpretation articles about the artist's style of art, influences or life.  
3. You will create a brochure using this information and visuals.  
4. After you have completed the brochure, you  will orally present the brochure to the class and answer questions they may have concerning your artist..
5. The following must be included in your brochure:  
• 4 to 6  images:   the work of art you are describing, a portrait or photo of  the artist, your own personal logo, and other works of art by the artist or clip art that relates to your articles.
• One article, written by you describing that work of art.
• 2 or more articles, written by you interpreting why your artist worked in that style, the influences on that artist, or the artist's life.   
• 2 pages
• Titles and headings
• Correct grammar and spelling 

Resources         

Here is a list of the websites to use.  Look at three or four of them before choosing your work of art.  You may already have an idea of the work of art you want to write about, but don't settle for your first choice.  There is much more out there than you may know.  You may also use other research materials available in the library.   

• http://www.nga.gov National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. houses one  of the finest collections in the world illustrating major achievements in painting, sculpture, and graphic arts from the Middle Ages to the present.  
• http://www.metmuseum.org More than two million works of art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.  These span more than 5,000 years of world culture, from prehistory to the present.
• http://www.moma.org Museum of Modern Art, New York City houses modern and contemporary art;  paintings sculpture, prints, drawings, photos and more.  Online images and essays.  
• http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/rodin/rodin.html One of the links from Boston College with sculptor Auguste Rodin as the main subject.  Lots of other sculpture links are  located here.  
• http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/ Boston College, Fine Arts Department with lots of links.
• http://www.artic.edu/aic/index.html The Art Institute of Chicago houses more than 300,000 works of art within its 10 curatorial departments.
• http://www.artsmia.org/ The Minneapolis Institute of Arts houses more than 100,000 objects from diverse cultural traditions spanning 5,000 years of world history.
• http://www.norton.org/index.htm The Norton Museum permanent collection, which has been identified as the "best in the State of Florida and one of the finest for a museum of its size in the United States," consists of over 4,500 works.
• http://www.philamuseum.org/ The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest and most important art museums in the United States.
• http://artcyclopedia.com/index.html The Artcyclopedia's custom search engine is already the fastest way to search the Net for information about fine artists. After entering your artist name, scroll down to find articles with written information about your artist.  
• http://cgi.www.sandiegomuseum.org/cgi-bin/www.sandiegomuseum.org/image.pl?mode=&artists=A&axis=Artists San Diego Museum of Art search for an artist by name at this link.   
• http://www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm The Louvre Museum in France. This site has everything, from virtual tours to information about works of art.  
• http://www.mcu.es/prado/index_eng.html The museum in Prado, Spain, collections mainly include paintings.
• http://www.artchive.com/ Artchives has a great index.  Click on Mona Lisa to find it.  
• http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/index.html This is the collection at The Art Institute of Chicago.  
• http://www.lacma.org/ The Los Angeles County Museum of Art
• http://www.getty.edu/art/ J. Paul Getty Museum, California, has an expansive collection of works of art. 

The Process    

1. Artists will be assigned randomly at the teacher's discretion.  
2. Four days will be spent in the Library using the Computer Lab to search the Internet and use Microsoft Publisher. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to come after school, or work at home or during your study hall to make up the time missed due to absence.  
3. You will hand in all your researched materials at the end of each day as a check of your progress.  
4. Finally,  create the brochure (using Microsoft Publisher if possible).   The brochure needs to be typed or neatly hand written.  You can import graphics and pictures as well as change the letter sizing and font to enhance the visual effect.      
   • Use Font size  9  TO 14
   • You will need 4 to 5 pictures or images in your brochure  see below

    1.  Research and find ONE work of art to describe.

    2.  Print it out.  Cut or copy and paste to a page after you open Publisher/brochure.  

    3.  Write a description article about that work of art.  

        Type it directly onto the Publisher document.   Include the following:  

• Title
• 10 to 15 sentences 
• picture of the work of art
• details of what you see in the work of art as if you were telling someone about it on the telephone.  

    4.  Save your work on disk or your file.   

BRING A HIGHLIGHTER TO CLASS FOR DAY TWO.

    1.  Edit what you did on day one.

    2.  Research and find what influenced your artist to work with the subject matter and in the style that

        he/she did.  

    3.  Print it out.  Highlight the areas that have the information you need for your article.  

    4.  Write an article interpreting how your artist was influenced.  

           Type it directly onto the Publisher document.   Include the following:  

• Title
• Portrait of the artist 
• 5 to 8 sentences 
• using your own words, discuss what influenced your artist to work with the subject matter and in the style that he/she did.  

    5.  Save your work on disk or your file.   

    1.  Edit what you did on day two.

    2.  Research and find what other inspirations or life experiences influenced your artist.   

    3.  Print it out.  Highlight the areas that have the information you need for your article.  

    4.  Write an article interpreting how your artist was inspired or influenced.  

           Type it directly onto the Publisher document.   Include the following:  

• Title
• TWO  images to go with your article
• 5 to 8 sentences 
• using your own words, discuss what inspirations or life experiences influenced your artist.   

    5.  Save your work on disk or your file.  

     6.  For extra points, research and find how your artist contributed to the art world.  

        Type it directly onto the Publisher document.   Include the following:  

• Title
• an image to go with the article
• 5 to 8 sentences
• using your own words, discuss what contributions your artist gave to the world of art.  

    7.  Save your work on disk or your file.  

    1.  Edit and Finish what you did on day three.

    2.  Create your own personal LOGO and insert near your name on the back of the brochure.  

    3.  Print it out.  

   5.  Save your work on disk or your file.   

    6.  Hand in your finished brochure.

   7.   Hand in all your Highlighted and printed materials. 

• The finished brochure and attached researched materials are due one week from the last day we work on it in class.  Points will be deducted for every day it is late.  

Learning Advice           

• Your brochure needs to be typed or neatly hand written. You may choose to begin writing with pencil and paper, or you may prefer to type directly into the computer.
• If you use the Publisher program, you can insert pictures or clip art as well as change the letter sizing and font to enhance the visual effect. Use of a brochure making program like Microsoft Publisher will make your job easier.
• All information used in your brochure must be put into your own words.  PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED; YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO FOR THE PROJECT.  
• Highlight the useful information you have printed out and write the name of the article in which it will be used AS YOU GO, and hand this in with your newsletter.  
• Be sure to mark and record your URLs.  URLs must be cited and credited for all sites and graphics you use.  Make sure you understand the copyright information for the Internet. 
• Work cooperatively with your classmates if they get stuck on a problem with the computer.  Offer your assistance when appropriate.  ......in this case, two brains are better than one........
• Go directly to the library on our assigned days and begin working immediately.  If you are absent, you must make up the work after school. 

Grading            

Daily participation points:   Total of 40 points.

Will be earned during the four days we spend at the computer doing this Web Quest.  If you are absent, you need to come after school to make up the points, or hand in printed researched materials you find at home or after school to make up the time missed due to absences.  

Brochure :  Total of 50 points:  Points will be deducted if handed in late.

Oral Presentation:  25 points

Rubric:  

                    5 - Superior in content, preparation and presentation.

                    4 - Good.  Shows creativity and initiative.

                    3 - Average.  Meets basic requirements.  

                    2 - Below average.  Some areas need additional work.   

                    1 -  Weak.  Needs additional effort. 

                     0 - Not present or submitted

Conclusion                                 

Congratulations. You  now have created a brochure which will allow your fellow class members to learn about famous works of art and artists around the world.  Who knows, maybe this will inspire you to travel to these distant locations and to see in person the actual works of art.   Through the oral presentations,  you will discover many different representations of the human figure and be able to apply that knowledge to your own works of art.  Learning from the artists of the past give us new ways to express ourselves with a new understanding through our own works of art.

P.S.  You will incorporate the image of your researched work of art in a classroom drawing we will be doing very soon.

This page written by Vicki O. Wilson.  Last updated:  March 16, 2002.     
The motion clips and clip art used on this site were from Microsoft Office 2000 Clip Art.  

This page was adapted from Bernie Dodge 's WebQuest_Template1.html by Tom March