For this assignment, you will write a comparative research paper on two (2) works of modern art made at any time from c. 1850 to the present.

Suggested length: 2-3 pages double spaced, 550-750 words. Bibliography and images don’t count.

• You should consult and correctly cite at least two (2) scholarly sources to help you provide historical context to these works
• Tip: Look to linked readings in course lessons labeled “Optional reading/take your learning further” for works of art. You can also explore the articles and videos in the Khan Academy website (Links to an external site.). Great topics to explore include:
  • World War I, Futurism, and Dada
  • Surrealism
  • The International Avant-Garde
  • German Art between the Wars
  • Latin American Modernism
  • American Art to World War II
  • Abstract Expressionism
  • Pop
  • Minimalism and Earthworks
  • Women in Art and Art History
  • Identity, the Body, and the Subversion of Modernism
  • Architecture and Design
  • Modern and Contemporary Art (Links to an external site.)
  • Realism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism (Links to an external site.)
  • Symbolism and Art Nouveau (Links to an external site.)
  • Fauvism and Matisse (Links to an external site.)
  • Cubism and Early Abstraction (Links to an external site.)
  • Modernisms 1900-1980. (Links to an external site.)
  • Follow this link and scroll down on the page to see articles on the following topics:
  • Optional: You can also use Google Arts and Culture (Links to an external site.) to tour collections at museums around the world. Be sure that the works of art you choose are made from c. 1850 to the present.

The two works of art may stylistically differ and may or may not address a similar theme, issue, or share similar historical relevance. 

You may choose to either compose this paper as a traditional research paper by following the instructions below OR you may choose to write from the perspective of a museum curator who is presenting properly cited/footnoted research in the form of a proposal for a display of these two works of art. Note that this second option must still follow all instructions below and include a thesis about why the two works of art create a compelling comparative display. If you have any questions about writing from a curatorial perspective, please reach out to your instructor during office hours.

The comparison should be original and analytical and include the following:

1. A thesis explaining what you want to show in your comparison. Why is this comparison meaningful? How does it offer insight into the history of art and its relevance? Use one of the questions below to help guide your investigation and craft a strong thesis.
2. Formal qualities and stylistic characteristics of the chosen works that support your thesis,
3. An original reading of the works’ content/themes/ideas
4. An explanation of the works’ historical significance based in your original research and consultation of scholarly print and online sources and
5. In-text citations and a bibliography of sources used, cited using the instructions linked below.

Questions to help guide your investigation and craft a strong thesis:

• How do the two works respond to questions of the role of art or the artist in society?
• How do the two works take religion or spirituality as their theme or fulfill a spiritual purpose?
• How do the two works respond to political issues?
• How do the two works of art seek to document or represent historical events (i.e. fire, plague, war, encounter)?
• How do the two works use art to express or explore racial, gender, or class identities?
• How do the two works of art portray a quest for knowledge or enlightenment?
• How do the two works of art expose the intersections of the visual arts with the sciences (for example, biology, physics, or medicine)?
• How do the two works of art tell biographical or autobiographical stories?
• How do the two works of art respond to the demands of institutions of art or the market?
• How do the two works of art represent innovation in the use of the elements and principles of art or in the artist’s choice of materials?
• Create your own guiding question and feel free to discuss it with your instructor in office hours.

Check your work. The comparison paper should contain

• an original and compelling thesis that tells your reader which works of art you are examining and what you aim to show in your comparison
• a comparison of your chosen works in terms of
  • their formal and stylistic characteristics (the use of the elements and principles of art),
  • content/themes,
  • and historical context
• in-text citations (especially in the analysis of historical context) that shows that you got your information from at least two reliable, scholarly sources
• a works cited list or bibliography at the end with at least two consistently formatted entries. All in-text citations should correspond to an entry in this work cited list/bibliography and vice-versa
• Before writing your comparison, compose notes on the following categories and questions:
  • Thesis: what do you want to say in this paper? The thesis should clearly and succinctly state what you aim for your analysis to show your reader about the works of art. A good thesis statement might be your interpretation of what an artwork aims to show (its theme or meaning), not whether you think the artwork is good or bad. Be sure to include the titles of the works and the names of the artists in your paper.
  • Stylistic comparison/Visual Analysis: Describe the formal qualities of the works using terminology from week 1. What do you see? Which elements and principles of design do you recognize in the work? How are they characteristic of a particular modern art movement or style? Be as specific as possible, but focus on details that are most important to your thesis. These formal qualities are the “evidence” upon which you base your argument. You should be able to support your thesis through your description of the various formal aspects of the works of art. Tip: Be sure to not only use the terms, but show your reader that you know what they mean. An easy way to do this is to use commas or parentheses directly after the term to include a brief definition.
  • Content and themes: Offer an original reading of the works. Explain how formal qualities present an idea/theme or explain how these formal qualities communicate a message/tell a story.
  • Historical/contextual analysis: What was happening in history at the time these works were made? Why are these works of art historically significant? What might these works of art tell us about the artists who made them and the issues these artists found important? How might these works of art enrich our understanding of history? Why should we care about these works of art? This part should answer the question all papers should answer: “So what?”
  • Compose your essay by organizing your notes in a logical way, beginning with a clear statement of your thesis.