Objective Statement: The students will analyze the Iconography of Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait by using the nine aspects of Media Literacy.
Overview of Student Learning Experience
Describe how students will actively engage in the learning experience, including critical or creative media integration.
Written overview clearly describes how students will actively engage in the learning experience, including critical or creative media integration. Response should be two or more paragraphs with specific examples and details.
This art analysis will attract the student’s attention in explaining key features and concepts within the piece and to raise appreciation for the art. By reviewing the five key questions art historians should ask along with reviewing the nine aspects of media for literacy the students will have a better understanding of the work and will begin to understand how to form their own questions regarding the work as it relates to appreciation and analyzing further.
This lesson will focus on Iconography under the category of Subject Matter, and will touch on the motive of the patron. After a discussion of the various items used as iconography within the work the student will be able to fully analyze work using each of the nine Aspects of Media Literacy.
A review of the five questions of art historians when analyzing a work are:
When was it made:
Physical Evidence (archaeology, carbon-dating)
Documentary (write about art as it is being made)
Internal evidence (art itself tells when it was made through portraiture or labeling)
Stylistic evidence (characteristic changes)
What Style is it:
Time-frame is important
Consider geography
Consider artist’s personal style (i.e. a Jackson Pollock always looks like a Jackson Pollock.)
What is the Subject Matter:
What are we physically seeing
What do we see psychologically
What iconography is used
Who paid for the art - who is the patron:
What is the motive behind the request
Who is the Artist
Is there a signature or other labeling
A review of the nine aspects to analyze media for literacy are:
Author
Purpose and Effect
Audience
Overt or Explicit Message
Covert or Implicit Message
Message Meaning
Representation vs. Reality
Context - When is it made or How it’s viewed to the public
Credibility of source
Incorporating NC Standards Teaching and Learning Standards:
Provide the specific standards to which your video hook applies, listing them from the state or national standards website. Then, write a brief statement that describes how you meet the standards in your lesson and questions activity, employing quotes from the standards and clear examples of how the media and technology are actively used in teaching and learning.
I - Intermediate High School Standards , CX – Contextual Relevance
I.V.1 Use the language of visual arts to communicate effectively.
I.V.1.1 Use art vocabulary to critique art.
I.V.1.2 Understand how design influences artistic expression.
I.V.1.3 Understand the use of global themes, symbols, and subject matter in art.
I.V.1.4 Analyze images through the process of deconstruction (the components of the image and its meaning).
NC Standards Statement: The North Carolina Essential Standards are met by use of proper vocabulary when analysing the work, discussing how design may influences artistic expression, discussing the iconography of the work in what the various objects represent, and delving further into each symbolic item to analyze how it is relevant to the times and culture in which it was created.
Question Sets Question Sets with Model Student Answers (how teachers will guide/engage students)
Includes three or more thoughtful, open-ended, higher order thinking question sets that guide students’ learning experience.
Each question set includes detailed model student answers.
Question Set 1: General Examples of Iconography
In review of how we analyze art regarding the subject matter, what are some common general examples of Iconography in today’s American society and what do they represent? *HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)
A couple of common examples of iconography are the heart shape which represents love, a flag to represent a country, a and cross representing Christianity.
What are some uses of iconography that have an explicit, overt message in our society? Give contextual evidence and reasoning behind our example. *HOTS
Thinking of any popular commercial icons such as the symbol for Facebook is represented by a white lower-case “f” positioned within a blue square. When we see the Facebook icon we immediately relate it to social media.
Thinking deeper outside of commercial icons, are there any example of iconography with a psychological connection that is more implicit and covert? *HOTS
In color theory we learn that the colors red and yellow engage our senses to make us feel hungry. Many fast-food restaurants brand their icons with those colors such as McDonalds, Hardee's’, and Burger King.
Some iconography can play on emotions such as fear. A skull often represents death.
Question Set 2: Iconography and other art-analyzing aspects as they relate to the Aspects of Media Literacy
In review of the nine aspects of Media Literacy, how might we analyze Iconography? Be specific. *HOTS
We may consider the Overt Messages and Covert Messages symbolized by objects, colors, or other principles and elements of design. These elements can trigger emotional and psychological responses such as hunger, fear, happiness, or wanting to buy a particular product or service because of a known symbol. One example would be the yellow McDonald’s arches on a red background. In color-theory we learn red and yellow triggers hunger. The arches are well-known and invoke a feeling of happiness and the trust of getting a quick meal.
How would the Patron of a work of art relate to the Media Literacy aspect of Purpose and Effect, and why? *HOTS
The Patron is the person or organization that commissions the art. There may be a specific reason for that request such as representing a moment in history or as a form of propaganda. A patron may request art to help represent an idea.
How might some art relate to the Media Literacy aspect of Representation versus Reality when we think of art throughout history? Give an example. *HOTS
There are times when a patron may want to embellish a story or portrait. In ancient history, for example, some kings and pharaohs were not quite what they appeared to be in according to their statues.
Question Set 3: Analyzing Iconography in Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait using the Aspects of Media Literacy
When looking at the Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck in Italy during the Renaissance, what do you believe the patron wants the viewer to think about him? What contextual evidence supports your answer? *HOTS
That he loves his wife: His wife is holding his hand and they are wearing nice clothes and surrounded by nice furniture and things.
He wants the viewer to know that he is very wealthy. He has several expensive items and features in the room. Also, above the mirror it says, “van Eyck was here.” This shows Arnolfini’s wealth because van Eyck was a renowned artist, and the first artist to do naturalistic and realistic portraits. Being able to afford a work from van Eyck shows a wealthy status. In addition, van Eyck is reflected in the mirror implying that Arnolfini and van Eyck had a close relationship.
What are some things in this painting that may represent wealth and what contextual evidence supports your answer? *HOTS
The fine clothing, the imported oranges from Spain, the small dog, the open window, the view from the window, and the fine furniture. Contextually in the time of the Renaissance it was very expensive to have imported goods such as the oranges (from Spain). The clothing and furniture are of high quality materials. The open window shows that the Arnolfini’s live in an area where the sewage system is underground rather than in the streets like most common, lower wealth residencies. The view from the window shows that they are on an upper floor. Having multiple stories is expensive. The dog is a smaller breed, and those are more expensive than larger breeds. The wife’s clothing being green can also represent fertility and a wealth of family and offspring.
What are some things in this painting that may represent religion and what contextual evidence supports your answer? *HOTS
During the Renaissance in Italy most people were Roman Catholic. Arnolfini’s shoes are off as if he is standing on holy ground, the mirror is like God’s all-seeing eye, the single candle in the chandelier represents God’s presence or the Holy Spirit, and his wife may remind us of Saint Mary. Since this is also referred to as the Arnolfini Marriage the wife already looks pregnant, as if she has a holy conception like Mother Mary. If we look closer at the mirror we can see a person witnessing this event, which is another reason it is referred to as a marriage.
Media and Description of Integration The Arnolfini Portrait (1434), also known as the Arnolfini Marriage, is a perfect example of a media fit to analyze in terms of critical thinking and connecting imagery to ideas of the culture from that time period. Iconography is defined as a system of symbols used by a culture. In fully analyzing this work there are several examples of Iconography: The green dress represents fertility, the white headdress indicates the lady is already Giovanni Arnolfini’s wife, the dog represents loyalty but is also an expensive breed representing Arnolfini’s wealth, Arnolfini’s shoes being off represents that he is standing on holy ground, a single candle being lit in the chandelier represents the presence of God, the oranges by the window are imported from Spain representing wealth, the window being open represents a good neighborhood with fresh air where the sewage system is underground, the colored glass and expensive garments represent wealth, the view from the window indicates they are on the third floor meaning their home is expensive, on the mirror are beads representing prayer, the broom represents how the wife will rule over the servants, the mirror itself represents the all-seeing eye of God, and above the mirror it says, “van Eyck was here” meaning he could be a witness to their union or it could be Arnolfini (once again) showing off his wealth in getting his portrait done by Jan van Eyck.
References
Eyck, J. V. (1434). The Arnolfini Portrait [Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife]. Retrieved March 18, 2018, from https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-the-arnolfini-portrait Oil on Oak.
Public Schools of North Carolina, State Board of Education, & Department of Public Instruction. (n.d.). North Carolina Essential Standards Beginning Visual Arts. “9-12 Visual Art Standard: I.V.1 Use the language of visual arts to communicate effectively.” Retrieved March 20, 2018, from http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/curriculum/artsed/scos/new-standards/arts/visual/912.pdf
Reference on Presentation Development (separate document):
The “Teacher’s Guide Developing Media Literacy By Analyzing the Iconography in Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait” PowerPoint Presentation was developed in Google Slides, which includes the theme, fonts, colors, and graphics. The presentation was designed by Dorothy B. Smith in March of 2018.