The Night Before Christmas

An Art Analysis

Look at all the book covers on this page.

Describe the pictures.
What features are particular to each picture?
What is the time period depicted?
What part of the world is depicted?
What is the centre of attention?
How do the surrounding features draw your attention to the centre?
What colours are used: warm or cool?
What lighting is used: subdued or bright?
What is the angle of perspective of the viewer?
What medium is used: oil, watercolour, pencil, pastel, collage or woodcut?
What is the surface quality: shiny or matte?
How realistic is each picture?

Notice patterns.
What features are in each of the pictures?
What do all the pictures have in common?
Can you divide the pictures into categories?

Analyze moods.
What emotions do you feel when you view each picture?
What features and techniques contribute to the mood?

Make connections.
What do you know about the artists?
What does each picture tell you about the artist?
What does each picture tell you about the intended audience?
What does each picture tell you about society when it was created?
What memories come to mind when you look at each picture?

“I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent….” Taylor Caldwell.

Share your thoughts.
Which picture is your favourite?   Why?

“For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.” Charles Dickens

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store.” Dr. Seuss

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”  Bob Hope

 

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