Order and Invention
Tuesdays, November 5 – December 3, 6 – 8pm
Paul Cézanne. Still Life (detail), 1892–94. The Barnes Foundation, BF148. Public Domain.
$220; members $198
(4 classes; no class November 26)
About the Class
How is the spark of creativity nurtured, sustained, and realized into a finished work of art? What strategies have artists used to assist the expressive process? This class will explore compositional tools that aid artists in making images. Using selected works from the Barnes collection, we will examine the golden section rectangle, the rule of thirds, and the use of the grid and viewfinder. We will also consider the use of technology such as the camera obscura and the influence of paintings in the development of photography and moving images.
The class is online-only. More about online classes.
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Barnes classes will:
- Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
- Improve your ability to communicate about art.
- Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.
Instructor
Michael Williamson
A member of the Barnes faculty, Williamson studied at Yale University and the Milton Avery Graduate School of Bard College. He taught art history and studio art for nearly 30 years at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia. Williamson has an active art practice and has shown his paintings locally.
Recent Barnes Class Testimonials
“Naina Saligram is the professor everyone hopes to have. She is knowledgeable and open to listening to her students.” The Classical Tradition in Modern Art with Naina Saligram
“I learned so much in this class, especially things I would not have considered or did not learn when taking art history classes in college.” Portraiture at the Barnes: From the 15th Century to Modernism with Laura Watts
“Kaelin is an amazing professor and has so much knowledge about the collection and the Barnes Foundation. She makes the content interesting and encourages your ideas and questions.” The Traditions of Art with Kaelin Jewell
“I love Cézanne’s art. I am a neuroscientist and always use Cézanne as an example of an artist when I teach vision and the art of seeing. This class helped me appreciate Cézanne’s work even more [and] was very engaging.” Close-Looking Immersion: Cézanne’s Ginger Jar with William Perthes
“The instructor was amazing! She was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and open to questions. She brought in outside resources and made herself available via email for questions between classes. I would take anything she teaches.” The Impressionists: Friends and Family with Caterina Pierre
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Degas and Impressionism: 150 Years Later
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Close-Looking Immersion: El Greco’s Apparition of the Virgin and Child to Saint Hyacinth
This new series of single-session immersions provides opportunities to study and discuss individual works. Instructor: Kaelin Jewell