Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you? I hope you're doing great.

My name's Ms. Afzal and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling very excited about that because I'm really interested in our subject.

We'll be looking at portraits.

Yeah, portraits.

There's so much I find fascinating about portraits and we're gonna be getting right into it.

The title of our lesson is Portraits and Figures in Fine Art, and this lesson comes from the unit of work Foundation Workshops.

So yes, portraits are really something very foundational to art, and we are going to be exploring this together.

I hope you're feeling interested and excited about the lesson as I am too.

And if you're ready with some focus, some enthusiasm, let's begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can review the range of ways artists have been inspired by portraits and figures in art.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

Subject, narrative, and symbolism.

What do these keywords mean? Well, subject is the focus, topic, or image of an artwork.

For example, in a portrait, the subject is the person who has been painted.

Narrative, the story or message that an artwork communicates about the subject.

And symbolism, the use of objects, colours, or imagery to suggest deeper meanings.

These are our keywords, subject, narrative, and symbolism.

Let's look out and listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called Portraits and Figures in Fine Art.

It has three learning cycles.

First of all, artist spotlight: portraits and figures.

Next, visual deconstruction: portraits and figures.

And finally, personal connection in art: portraits and figures.

Let's begin with artist spotlight: portraits and figures.

Why do you think people have always been such a powerful subject in art? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your responses.

Artists across history and cultures have been inspired to create portraits and art inspired by the human body.

Artists take different approaches to the techniques and themes in their work.

Some themes and techniques artists might use are achieving accuracy and recognisable likeness, symbolism, life experiences and social commentary, abstract, narrative.

Some artists focus on the accuracy of their work, aiming to achieve a highly recognisable likeness of their subject using realistic features and colours.

This kind of representation is very common in Western approaches to portraiture.

Artists who focus on recognisable depictions of their subject include David Hockney captured the likeness of his mother in "Mum" 1988-89, Rakan Kurdi has captured accurate likenesses in his portraits of the Saudi Arabian royal family.

Artemisia Gentileschi rendered powerful female subjects in her paintings.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What is the main aim of an artist when creating a recognisable depiction of their subject? A, to create a realistic image of the model.

B, to experiment with bold colours and patterns.

C, to express strong emotions through abstract shapes.

To make their art look unfinished on purpose.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected A.

Indeed, the main aim of an artist when creating a recognisable depiction of their subject is to create a realistic image of the model.

In historical Western art, portraiture often centred around the wealthy and powerful.

This meant that many people, including those from marginalised groups, the working classes and everyday life, were often excluded from representation.

What kind of stories or people might artists choose to highlight today? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your responses.

Here's Jacob.

"Artists could choose to make art about marginalised people and groups." And Alex, "Artists might explore global traditions, especially from their own heritage." And Sofia, "Artists might portray the real lives of diverse people, not just the wealthy and powerful." Maybe you had ideas like these.

In some cultures, symbolism has been used to denote specific people or their character.

It may be more important than recognisable facial features.

Here's Jun.

"Kings, Obas, of Benin are represented in stylized bronze works with elaborate regalia, coral beads, and facial stylization to show status and power." And, "Portraits of Chinese ancestors often blended realism with symbolic elements like traditional robes and objects to show rank and status.

It is about honouring status and legacy." Artists can use depictions of people to show life experiences.

These may be their own or those of others.

Through portraiture, artists may reflect real life, examine past experiences, challenge misconceptions, advocate change through social commentary.

Loving what Aisha has created.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following is not a reason an artist might depict people in their work? A, to avoid making any form of social commentary, to challenge stereotypes or misconceptions, to examine personal or cultural identity, to show real-life experiences, their own or others.

So which of these is not a reason an artist might depict people in their work? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer A.

Indeed to avoid making any form of social commentary.

Some artists, like Riva Lehrer, use their art to document or examine their life experiences.

Lehrer creates powerful figurative portraits of herself and other disabled individuals exploring identity, vulnerability, and empowerment.

Other artists challenge misconceptions through their work, such as Malgorzata Mirga-Tas, who addresses stereotypical representations of Roma people.

Artists sharing social commentary in their artwork to highlight issues include Barbara Walker, who drew her subject overlaid on documentation needed to prove British citizenship as part of the Windrush scandal in her series "Burden of Proof" 2023, Norman Rockwell documented US marshals escorting 6-year-old Ruby Bridges into school in "The Problem We All Live With," 1964.

Can you name any other artists who address social issues in their work? Pause video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Some artists depict portraits and figures using an abstract approach.

They might use abstract shapes and forms, unrealistic colours, expressive marks.

What meaning could this add to the work? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Here's Sam.

"Abstracting colours and shapes, and using expressive marks could create a clearer link to the emotions of the artist or subject." Great thinking, Sam.

And Andeep.

"It could also be used to share deeper meanings or ideas.

Artists can use a combination of realism and abstraction in their work." Artists using abstract shapes, expressive marks, or unrealistic colours in their portraits and figures include Wifredo Lam's "Your Own Life" 1942 is a portrait created through the use of abstract shapes and lines.

Robert Delaunay's "Portrait of Madame Heim" 1926, '27 uses abstract geometric shapes.

And Marisol Escobar experiments of abstraction of the subject, while blurring the boundaries between 2D and 3D in her work "Dinner Date," 1963.

Artists often use portraiture and art of the figure to tell a real or imagined story.

This is called a narrative.

Why might an artist choose to depict a real person to help convey a narrative in their work? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Artists developing a narrative in their artworks include Paula Rego, frequently staged real-life models in dramatic theatrical poses to develop her narrative scenes, Hetain Patel uses video, performance, and photography to explore identity, language, and cultural heritage.

Patel frequently blends autobiographical elements with narrative storytelling, as in "Baa's House 11," which pays homage to his grandmother.

Check for understanding.

True or false? A narrative can only be created through use of text in an artwork.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Artists use imagery in a wide range of ways to communicate different narratives and themes.

They may adapt the pose of the subject, background imagery, and colour palette to express a narrative.

Other themes and techniques artists might use are beauty ideals, power and status, distortion, text integration, and social commentary or propaganda.

And now it's time For your first task.

I'd like you to select two or three artists or specific artworks and compare them.

Consider these questions.

In what ways are the artworks visually similar or different? Think about subject, colour, tone, shape, style, composition, and materials.

What themes, symbols, or ideas do the artworks explore? Are there any connections between them? And which techniques, processes, or creative choices in these artworks inspire you and how might you use them in your own work? So pause here while you have a go at this task.

Good to be back with you.

How did you get on? You may have said something like, this is Lucas.

"Both Riva Lehrer and David Hockney have created portraits which create emotion and have recognisable subjects.

Lehrer creates less realistic scenes, but they give us greater insight into the lives of her subjects." And Aisha, "Hockney uses colour effectively, which I will try to apply, but Lehrer creates more information in her scenes, some of which look like real moments.

I could create more meaning in my work if I do the same." You may have created something like this.

So here we can see a Venn diagram.

Both of these artists are creating emotion and they have recognisable subjects, but Riva Lehrer is not always showing a real situation.

And paints situations giving information about subject's lives.

And the subject is active in a task.

While with David Hockney, he has effective use of vibrant colour and he may paint the same person over time to show ageing.

And the subject is often sitting or inactive.

And now onto our next learning cycle, visual deconstruction: portraits, and figures.

What is the first thing you notice about this artwork? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Artists use various techniques to communicate in their work.

The elements of art, line, tone, colour, pattern, shape, form, and texture.

Composition, space and perspective.

Materials and techniques.

Imagery and subject.

We can deconstruct these techniques to understand the work more deeply.

Check for understanding.

Which of the following best explains why we might deconstruct an artist's techniques and creative decisions? Is it to copy the exact style for our own work? To decide if the artwork is realistic or abstract only.

To identify which art supplies were the most expensive.

Or to understand the meaning behind the art.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected D, to understand the meaning behind the art.

Pause the video and share with someone, how are the elements of art used in this work? Perhaps you noted some of these things.

Strong lines create perspective and emphasise the clutter.

Muted colours with cool tones at the front and warm behind, feel unsettling.

Light tones are unevenly placed, focusing on the left, creating imbalance.

And textured paint adds interest, but blends the subject into the surroundings.

Geometric shapes and forms create a pattern around the subject.

Laura is describing the imagery and subject in this work.

"I noticed the computer and office equipment all around the subject.

There's no direct gaze as the subject is covering their face and the pose looks stressed.

There is a window showing an urban landscape outside." Artists can use gaze, pose, and body language of their subject to communicate.

A sense of power and social status, emotional mood, confidence or vulnerability.

Relationships between subjects in the work.

Interaction with the viewer.

Check for understanding.

Which is the most likely term to fill the gap? A seated figure looking directly at the viewer can suggest.

A, boredom, B, confidence, or C, fear.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected B, confidence.

Gaze that meets the viewer's own can create a sense of control or assertiveness.

And now it's time for your next task.

I'd like you to select one artwork and describe it.

What can you see in this artwork? Consider the elements of art, line, tone, colour, pattern, shape, form, and texture.

Composition, space and perspective.

Materials and techniques.

Imagery and subject.

How has the artist used these techniques to communicate with the audience? You could record your response as an idea shower around an image of the artwork or write a paragraph.

So pause here while you have a go at this task.

So how did you get on? You may have said something like this.

There's a realistic mournful expression on the subject's face.

The subject is positioned in the centre.

Soft brushwork texture to create a dappled backdrop.

Strong shadow creating contrast.

Not direct gaze, but a confident physical pose.

Colours are brighter around the shoulders with more faded colours in the backdrop.

Varied paint textures in the lower image.

And with this portrait, the subject fills the composition with little background.

The text creates a subtle pattern over the work.

Use of fine lines and marks to give indication of age.

Subject is looking off into the distance, maybe wistful.

Controlled colours deepen the emotion in the work.

And darker tone create a frame around the face to create emphasis.

And now we're onto our final learning cycle, personal connection in art: portraits and figures.

How can looking at an artist's work help us develop our own work? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Here's Jacob.

"I look at artwork with similar themes or meanings to help give me new ideas." "I'm inspired by the techniques artists use and try to apply these to my theme." And Sofia, "Work that has similar imagery can inspire new work even if the concept is different." Check for understanding.

True or false? We can only take inspiration from art that is exactly like ours in imagery, theme, and technique.

Pause here and decide if this statement is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Perhaps you said something like this.

You could select the elements of an artwork that inspire you and consider how you might use similar elements in your work.

You could find a technique inspirational, even if the artwork has a different concept or theme to your own work.

There are a number of things which can cause us to have a personal connection with an artwork such as techniques or themes.

We can identify and interpret symbolism or narratives in an artwork to examine our personal connection to the themes of the work.

What symbolism or narratives are in this work? Pause the video and share with someone.

Perhaps you came up with some ideas like these.

The wall acts as a barrier between the subject and the city.

The computer and phone symbolise communication, but the subject appears isolated.

Surrounded by papers and appearing stressed, this artwork suggest an narrative of overwork and isolation.

Different people find different personal connections to art, leading to varied ways of developing ideas from the same work.

How could this work link either thematically or technically to your theme? Pause the video and reflect on this.

Thanks for reflecting.

Here's Andeep.

"This work could inspire my theme of emotion and loneliness through the subject's pose and isolation." And Jun, "My theme is roles in society, so I could highlight vital but underrepresented jobs in my work, like care workers or delivery drivers." And Izzy, "I wanted to look at real life like in this artwork, but will show the life of my grandparents when they migrated." Can you think of other thematic interpretations? Pause the video while you do this.

Check for understanding.

Why can the same artwork inspire varied themes and ideas for different people? Is it A, artists usually follow one shared way of thinking? B, Everyone interprets artwork in exactly the same way.

C, people form a connection based on their own experiences.

Or D, there is only one correct theme in any given artwork.

Pause the video and decide.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, people form a connection based on their own experiences.

And now it's time for your final task.

I would like you to select one artwork and consider your personal connection.

What themes, symbols, or ideas does this art explore? Are there any symbols, imagery, or connections that help create a narrative or show meaning? Which techniques, processes, or creative decisions in this artwork inspire you and how might you use them in your own work? You could record this as an idea shower around an image of the artwork or write it as a paragraph.

Pause here while you have a go at this task.

Well done for having a go at this task.

You may have said something like this.

Theme, dreams and imagination.

I'm drawn to the colours and marks that overtake as the subject fades in the bottom of the frame.

It communicates ideas of drifting off to sleep.

I also feel that the non-direct gaze adds to this feeling of a dreamlike state.

I will create a similar composition with faded marks.

However, I would like to use direct gaze to create a powerful subject, exploring dreams as a hope for the future.

And with this example, theme, memory and ageing.

This work creates a narrative of an older person thinking back over their life.

This is suggested by the older subject who's looking off into the distance with a wistful expression.

This subject is painted on a calendar, which creates a sense of meaning and conveys ideas of time passing.

I will create my work of my old school books from primary school using an image of myself now.

I will create a direct gaze to show the idea of looking confidently towards my future.

In our lesson Portraits and Figures in Fine Art, we've covered the following.

Portraits can show a subject's identity, including culture, gender, age, social status, and background.

Portraits can tell stories about people's lives and experiences, reflecting relationships, emotions, or history.

Artists often use portraiture and art of the figure to tell real or imagined stories.

This is called a narrative.

Artists often use their work to share views on society, culture, or important issues.

Portraits can go beyond what someone looks like.

They can show who they are and what they stand for, sometimes using symbolism.

Well done, everyone, for exploring Portraits and Figures in Fine Art, looking at narratives, looking at who is the subject of portraits, and how we can make portraiture more inclusive.

It was great to be with you in this lesson and I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.