Jean-Michel Basquiat
Dustheads, 1982
acrylic, oilstick, spray enamel and metallic paint on canvas
72 x 84 inches
1a. How would you describe the lines in this painting? How do they make you feel?
1b. Basquiat chose to introduce variation among his lines to make an interesting artwork. In what ways are the lines different from one another?
Piet Mondrian
Broadway Boogie Woogie, 1942-43
Oil on canvas
50 x 50 inches
Vincent van Gogh
Wheatfield with Crows, 1890
Oil on canvas
19.9 x 40.6 inches
2a. How would you compare and contrast the lines between these two paintings?
2b. Which artist do you think used line most effectively? Explain your reasons why.
Henri Mattise
Woman Seated in an Armchair, 1940
Oil on canvas
21 x 25 inches
3a. Matisse incorporated many different types of line in this painting. Give examples of where you see diagonal, curved, straight, and repeating lines.
3b. Which lines appear to be expressive? Which ones are more rigid? Explain.
4a. What is the most noticable use of line here?
4b. What do you think Bernini was trying to express? Do you think his use of line helps get his message across? Why or why not?
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, 1647-52
Marble
Life-size
Naum Gabo
Linear Construction in Space No. 2, 1959-60
Perspex and nylon monofilament
31 inches
5a. Line is also an important element to consider in sculpture. Point out the properties of the lines used here and any special effects that you may notice because of them.
5b. What would you rename this sculpture?
Pablo Picasso
Mediterranean Landscape, 1952
Oil on panel
49 x 32 inches
Edward Hopper
Early Sunday Morning, 1930
Oil on canvas
35 x 60 inches
6a. The use of line can be more obvious in some artworks than others. Where is line being used where you may not have noticed at first?
6b. Discuss the movement of line between the two paintings.
Carlo Carra
Funeral of the Anarchist Galli, 1910-11
Oil on canvas
198 x 259 cm
Frank Stella
Harran II, 1967
Polymer and fluorescent polymer paint on canvas
120 x 240 inches
7a. Focus on the variety, movement, and color properties of each artwork's linework. What do you think Carra and Stella were trying to express in their paintings? How do they make you feel?
Alexander Calder
Acrobats, 1927
Wire and wood
34.5 x 9 x 12 inches
8a. Calder used wire to make this sculpture. How would you describe his lines?
8b. Imagine that you are making a line sculpture similar to this one. What materials would you use? What kind of lines would you use?