What Am I Looking At? - Juliana Beekenkamp

There are many ways in which one can enjoy art. Often, many of us don't know where to start and feel a bit lost wandering through art collections, looking at things we don't really understand. Studying the history of art and the artistic process in which the work of art was produced can really help create a better understanding of what we are looking at. However sometimes it is just the little things that make a huge difference; understanding little motifs within a work of art, the iconography, or symbolism of some of its elements, and even the use of particular colours. In this booklet I have grouped together some (but by no means all!) of the motifs you might encounter when looking at art, in alphabetical order. It will hopefully help you in understanding some of the intended meaning. It can also shed a light on subconscious interpretations, or underlying feelings of artist and or viewer. You can use these elements to hunt for representations in any works of art. Make it the theme of a trail in which you try to find a specific motif. Or you can look up elements you have noticed in a work of art to give you a deeper understanding.