Background:
The National Museum of Western Art (NMWA) in Tokyo has planned to hold an
exhibition dedicated to 19th-century French painting. They have invited various young
art historians to provide analyses of different paintings included in the show. You have
just graduated from UCSB with an Art History degree and now work as an art expert.
The head of the painting department at NMWA has invited you to assess and
contextualize two paintings – Eugène Delacroix’s Orphan Girl at the cemetery (c. 1823
or 24) and Édouard Manet’s Madame Manet at Bellevue (1880). He asks you to discuss
in your writing how they are relevant to 19th-century French painting.
Assignment:
Write a letter to the head of the painting department that compares and contrasts
these works. To uphold your reputation as an art expert, you must utilize and
showcase your analytical skills. In your letter, compare the formal elements of each
image to make your case. Additionally, relate these formal qualities to the significant
concepts or art movements discussed in our class.