Transcript File

Symbolism:
Hearts
in Art
Cueva del Pindal Cave Art
FROM ITS BEGINNINGS IN CAVE ART, THE HEART SHAPE HAS SURVIVED TO
INFILTRATE TEXT MESSAGES AND NEON SIGNS, AND TO BE ONE OF THE
MOST RECOGNIZED SYMBOLS ON EARTH.
H OW MA NY OF YOU H AVE E V ER U S E D T H E H EA RT A S A SY MB OL?
*Take Notes*
(record highlighted words and phrases)
We don’t know exactly
when the first person
scrawled a heart symbol
on a cave wall, but we
do know it was a long
time ago.
There is evidence of
heart shapes painted by
cro-magnon hunters as
far back as before the
first Ice Age, but
unfortunately we don’t
know what it meant to
them.
Read more at
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com
/news-strange-and-sometimes-sordidhistory-heart#yplcJ6Iizz6bsCVY.99
Life, reason,
emotion, soul
The ancient Egyptians held that
the heart was the key to both life
and morality.
It was similarly important to the
Greeks, who believed it kept the
body supplied with heat.
Aristotle and his fellow
philosophers also thought the
heart controlled reason, thought
and emotion, while the stoics
(people who aim for moral and
intellectual perfection) believed
that it was where the soul
resided.
Greek physicians were familiar
enough with the heart –
probably through their
experiments with surgery – to
know about its pumping action
and connection with the lungs.
Eternal Love
Later on, ivy took on some of
the more virtuous qualities
of love.
The longevity and endurance
of the vine were compared
to that of eternal love.
Representations of ivy were
used on Roman, Greek and
even early Christian graves
for this reason, as if to say
that the dead were gone but
the love they inspired
continued.
Saint Augustine depicted in a
17th-century painting with a
flaming heart.
Romantic Love
The next big
transformation for the
heart symbol occurred
during the Middle Ages.
Heart-shaped leaves
gradually began to be
colored red, another
symbol of love and
passion since the earliest
times.
The heart symbol now
stood for both romantic
love and the spiritual love
between mankind and
God.
Valetine’s Day history
While the history of Valentine's Day is sometimes
debated, it clearly links back to a Catholic saint
named St. Valentine.
In 469 A.D., Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 a day to
honor St. Valentine, a martyr.
One legend says that a Roman emperor banned
soldiers from marrying in the third century, but St.
Valentine took issue with this. He became an
advocate for soldiers and was executed as a result of
his outspokenness.
Another legend says St. Valentine was executed for
his beliefs in Christianity and just before he died, he
left a farewell note for a loved one and signed it
"From Your Valentine.“
Popularization
Probably the biggest event in
the popularization of the
heart symbol, however, was
when it began to be included
on playing cards during the
15th century.
Painters and sculptors
started using the symbol
more frequently, without the
previous association with
leaves.
Hearts were now
everywhere, from coats of
arms to gravestones.
The meaning remained the
same as with the ivy: love,
fidelity, bravery.
16th-century heart-shaped, or cordiform, map by French
mathematician and cartographer Oronce Fine.
Buddhism
Interestingly, the
heart-shaped leaf is
also a Buddhist icon,
but here it
represents the leaf
of the ‘Bodhi’ tree
under which the
Buddha is said to
have attained
enlightenment.
Catholicism
The heart began its worldwide march
into popular culture with the spread of
missionaries, who carried with them
the sacred heart symbol as a
representation of devotional love.
This use of the heart icon is still
popular today and can be found in
Catholic art around the world.
Banksy
Contemporary art
First, has the balloon escaped, or has the child released it? Does the balloon represent
something lost, or does it represent a gift being bestowed on the world?
Today’s Objective:
• You should be able to describe and write about the history of the
heart symbol in art and its meaning.
• You should also be able to use the elements of art and principles of
design to create a sculpture using 2-D rectangular strips of various
color and size that form a heart or multiple hearts.
• This heart should in some way communicate what the heart means to
you.
San Francisco
Grading:
• You will be graded on originality, details, neatness, and the use of the
Elements and Principles of Design.
Standards
• 2.0 Students apply artistic processes and skills, using a variety of
media to communicate meaning and intent in original works of art.
• 3.1 Research and describe how art reflects cultural values in various
traditions throughout the world.
• 4.2 Analyze the form (how a work of art looks) and content (what a
work of art communicates) of works of art
Contemporary sculpture
Rhythm of
Shapes
Symmetrical balance
of Lines/Shapes
Proportion of
Positive and
Negative Space
Incorporating
Text or Images
• What does the
heart mean to
you?
• Who is it for?
• What do you
want to tell
him/her?
Today’s Agenda:
1. Begin written reflections. Don’t forget to include your name.
2. Decide on a purpose for your heart. Is it for yourself or someone else?
3. Select and collect approximately 4 strips to begin designing with.
4. Gather scissors, glue, paper clips, and magazines from the back table.
5. If you decide to use text or images, now would be a good time to
incorporate them.
6. Start curling/folding or cutting your strips into the desired sizes for hearts.
7. Use paper clips to hold pieces together until you are ready for an available
stapler.
8. Gather more strips if necessary.
9. (Option to add tissue paper fluff or to hang your heart from yarn)
10.Reminder- Be Respectful! Keep voices to a whisper and stay on task. It is
okay to quietly gain problem solving advice from your neighbor.