One of the greatest qualities of visual art is the way it “speaks” to each one of us. People may share opinions about a work of art and even feel similar emotional responses, but ultimately our reactions to art and our interpretations of it are as individual as we are. Reading a painting is in many ways like reading a book:One of the greatest qualities of visual art is the way it “speaks” to each one of us. People may share opinions about a work of art and even feel s milar emotional responses, but ultimately our reactions to art and our interpretations of it are as individual as we are. Reading a painting is in many ways like reading a book:
The reader decodes symbols to establish meaning.
The reader uses inference and deduction (e.g. body language) to deepen understanding.
A reader’s previous knowledge and experience affects their personal response.
With this assignment, you have been given an image of Caravaggio’s, The Musicians as well as the traditional interpretation of the art (see above)
Your Essay assignment is to reflect an alternative narrative.
You will describe a story that differs from the traditional interpretation given.
From your imagination, identify who you think the characters in the art are and their motives.
It helps to locate a central character and then grow their relationship to the other characters in the painting.
Describe what the characters see, smell, feel, and hear.
Describe the details that are just outside of the image, the ones we can’t see.
Introduce dialogue into your story. What are they saying?
(Please note that all the individuals in the painting are men and should be accounted as men in your story. Why the men look the way they do is up to your imagination).
Use this art to write the Creative Interpretation Essay
Caravaggio, The Musicians, c. 1595:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435844 (Links to an external site.)https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435844 (Links to an external site.)
