Karl Blossfeldt : Critical study

1. Karl Blossfeldt: Critical study

2. Connector: What words can you use to describe Blossfeldt’s work below: detail texture Black and white tone Unusual pattern delicate growth natural

3. Bigger picture: • Learning outcomes • Key words • Critical study discussion • Content • Form • Process • Mood • Levelled outcome • Recording answers- as groups • Presentations

4. Learning outcomes • Level 3 All: Will be able to give facts about the art work and artist and basically describe it. • Level 4 Most: will be able describe the work and explain the processes and techniques the artist has used • Level 5 Some: will be able to explain how the photograph makes them feel and explain what they think the artist is trying to explain through his work

5. Who was Karl Blossfeldt? • Karl Blossfeldt was a photographer, sculpter, teacher and artist • He mainly photographed natural forms • He lived between 1865 and 1932 • He was lived and worked in Berlin in Germany

6. Key words • Photograph • picture produced using a camera • Magnify • To make something look larger than it is, especially by looking at it through a specially cut piece of glass • Monochrome • Using black white and grey only

7. What was special about Karl Blossfeldt? • He created his photographs using a home made camera. • He magnified his natural forms to up to 30 times their original size. • He was the 1st person to be seen to link art and science.

8. CRITICAL STUDIES CONTENT FORM Introducing the artwork. Describing the artwork. MOOD PROCESS How does the art work make you feel? • How was the artwork made? • Materials • tecnniques Title: Plate 22: Acer rufinerve. (magnified 10 times)

9. What is the name of the Artist? What is the name of the piece of art? 3. When was the artwork made? 4. What is the main subject of the art work work? CONTENT (Introduction to the piece of artwork)

10. The artist’s name is Karl Blossfeldt The name of the art work is; Plate 22: Acer rufinerve The artwork was made in 1928 The subject of the art is a magnified section of a plant. CONTENT (Introduction to the piece of artwork)

11. 5. In DETAIL, describe the main subject in the photograph. 6. Explain whether the photograph is realistic or unrealistic, why? 7. What colours has the artist used in the photograph and why? 8. What area or areas of the photograph do your eyes first catch? Why? FORM (Description of the piece of work)

12. 5.The main subject of the photograph is a magnified section of a plant. You can see in the middle of the photograph a stem with two buds growing either side. 6. I think the picture is realistic because it is a photograph and a photograph represents the apperence of an object exactly. FORM (Description of the 2d piece of work)

13. FORM (Description of the piece of work) 7. The artist has used no colour in the photograph only black white and grey. This is because at the time the photograph was printed colour photography had not been invented. 8. The areas which first catch my eye are the two large buds either side of the stem. This is because they are in the middle of the photograph and they show more texture and detail than the rest of the photograph.

14. 9. What media did the artist use to make the artwork? 10. What technique did the artist use to make the artwork? PROCESS (The medium and technique)

15. PROCESS ( The medium and technique) 9. The materials that the artist used to create the photograph would have been, a camera, light and photographic paper. The photograph would have been developed using chemicals. 10. The technique the artist used was photography. He also magnified the subject up to 30 times their actual size.

16. 11. Do you like the artwork? If yes why? If no why not? 12. There are no colours in the photographs that Karl Blossfeldt took. How do black white and grey make you feel? 13. Would you like to take a photograph in the same style as Karl Blossfeldt’s natural forms? If yes why? If no why not? 14. What natural form would you choose to magnify and photograph why? MOOD ( How does the artwork make you feel?)

17. 11. I do like the art work because it is simple and beautiful. Because it is magnified I really notice all the texture and detail of the plant so I enjoy looking at it more. 12. The black white and grey tones in the photograph I would usually find dull and boring because I like bright colours. I also think that natural things should look colourful and cheerful. However, I think just having a black , white and grey colour scheme shows up more detail. 13. I would like to take a photograph in the same style as Karl Blossfeldt because I would like to magnify small objects to see them in such great detail MOOD ( How does the artwork make you feel?)

18. Level: Critical Study- Mark you partners work Level 5C:Full detailed sentencesshowing excellent understanding of key Art words. Level 4A:Sentences flow showing good understanding of key Art words. Level 4B:Sentences may not all flow but show understanding of key Art words. Level 4C:Sentences do not flow but show some understanding of key Artwords. There may be a few spelling mistakes. Level 3A:One worded answersor very disjointed sentenceswith some spelling mistakes.

19. Set your partner 2 targets(Discuss target ideas on your table)They need to... • Read and check my spellings and writing. • Check my spellings against the key Art • word board. • Make sure my sentences flow. • Make sure I use full detailed sentences. • Make sure I use key Art words correctly. • Make sure I use key Art words.

20. General Karl Blossfeldt questions • When did he live? • Where was he from? • What was special about the camera he used? • Where did Karl Blossfeldt travel during his career and what did he collect? • What two subjects that you study at school did Karl Blossfeldt link together?

21. Review • Review quiz. Answer the questions to see if you were paying attention to the other groups!