Welcome to Skill 7: Art Historical Interpretations

In your AP Art History journey, you have already learned how to look at an artwork (Visual Analysis) and how to understand the world around it (Contextual Analysis). Now, it is time to put those skills together to tackle Skill 7: Art Historical Interpretations. Think of this skill as being an "art detective." An interpretation is not just a random guess about an artwork; it is a logical conclusion reached by looking at all the evidence. In this chapter, we will learn how scholars build these interpretations and why they matter for your exam.

What is an "Art Historical Interpretation"?

An interpretation is an explanation of the meaning or significance of a work of art. It answers the big questions: What does this work actually represent? Why was it made this way? What impact did it have on the people who saw it?

According to the official curriculum, these interpretations are derived (built) from several different "ingredients":

  • Form and Style: How it looks (e.g., the realistic muscles of the Seated boxer).
  • Materials: What it is made of (e.g., the precious jade of a Jade cong).
  • Content: What is being shown (e.g., the story in The Court of Gayumars).
  • Function: How it was used (e.g., the Sika dwa kofi (Golden Stool) as a symbol of the Asante nation).
  • Context: The history, politics, or religion of the time.
  • Reception: How the original audience (or later audiences) reacted to the work.

Part 1: How Interpretations are Derived (The "How")

When you are asked to explain how an interpretation is derived, you are being asked to show the "math" behind the answer. You must explain how specific evidence leads to a specific conclusion. Don't worry if this seems tricky at first; it's all about connecting the dots!

A Step-by-Step Example

Let's look at the Röttgen Pietà (Work #62).
The Interpretation: This work was intended to make the viewer feel a personal, emotional connection to the suffering of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
How it's derived:

  1. Visual Analysis (Form): The figures are distorted, with blood dripping from wounds and Mary's face showing deep agony.
  2. Context: During the late Middle Ages in Germany, there was a shift toward "mysticism," where people wanted to feel the pain of religious figures to better understand their faith.
  3. Conclusion: Therefore, the interpretation of this work as an emotional "Vesperbild" (devotional image) is derived from its distorted form and its religious context.

Key Takeaway

An interpretation is never "just because." It is always "because of the [form/context/function/etc.]."

Part 2: Analyzing Significance (The "Why")

Once we have an interpretation, we have to ask: Why does it matter? This is often what you will do in Free Response Question 6 (Continuity and Change). You are looking for the "so what?" factor.

For example, consider Fountain (second version) by Marcel Duchamp (Work #144).
The Interpretation: This work (a "readymade" urinal) challenges the very definition of what "art" is.
The Significance: This interpretation is significant because it shifted the focus of art from craftsmanship (how well you can paint or sculpt) to conceptualism (the idea behind the work). It changed the course of 20th-century art history.

Skill 7 on the AP Exam

Skill 7 makes up about 6–8% of the Multiple Choice section, but it is very important in the Free Response section!

1. Multiple Choice Questions

You might see a question that asks: "Which of the following is an art historical interpretation of the [Work Name]?"
Tip: Look for the answer that goes beyond just describing the work. A description says "the statue is bronze." An interpretation says "the bronze material reflects the status and wealth of the patron."

2. Free Response Question 4 (Contextual Analysis)

This question will often ask you to explain how an art historical interpretation is derived from the analysis of context, meaning, or reception. You will need to provide a specific piece of evidence and explain how it supports that interpretation.

3. Free Response Question 6 (Continuity and Change)

This question asks you to analyze the meaning or significance of an interpretation. This is your chance to explain how the work fits into the "big picture" of artistic traditions or how it changed the way people thought about art.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Confusing Description with Interpretation: Simply saying "The Palette of King Narmer shows a king hitting a guy" is a description. Saying "The Palette of King Narmer is interpreted as a symbolic representation of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt" is an interpretation.
  • Ignoring the "Why": Don't just state the interpretation; explain why scholars believe it (using visual or contextual evidence).
  • Getting "Creative": On the AP exam, stick to the interpretations supported by the official curriculum. This isn't the time to make up your own brand-new theory!

Quick Review: The Interpretive Toolkit

To master Skill 7, always ask yourself these three questions when looking at an artwork:
1. What is the main message or meaning of this work? (The Interpretation)
2. What evidence from the work or its history proves this? (The Derivation)
3. Why was this message important to the culture that made it? (The Significance)

Memory Aid: The "E.I.E." Method

Evidence + Interpretation = Explanation.
Always use Evidence (visual or contextual) to state an Interpretation, then Explain why they are connected!

Note: For more information on how to perform visual or contextual analysis, see "Skill 1: Visual Analysis" and "Skill 2: Contextual Analysis."