Have you ever heard the expression A picture's worth a thousand words? Well, sometimes poets think that a picture, or a sculpture, or a piece of pottery is worth just that, and maybe more.
When poets find a piece of visual artwork that truly captures their imagination, they often engage in a literary practice known as ekphrastic poetry, which is poetry that verbally describes a visual work of art. For example; a song might be based on a famous piece of literature, a short story might include great detail (especially of evoked emotions) of the Mona Lisa, or a poem may describe a well-known artistic movement.
Modern scholars have simplified the definition and say ekphrasis is "the verbal representation of a visual representation" (Nordquist). At it's core ekphrasis makes explicit connections between art, storytelling, and life.
Examples of Ekphrasis (art to poetry)
Homer's ekphrastic nod to Achilles' great shield
William Carlos Williams and Charles Sheeler
So let's practice together. Look at the image below. Really study it and all its minute details.
Let's brainstorm some answers to the questions below.
• List the first words that come to mind when you look at this artwork.
• What is happening in this artwork? What story is being told?
• Who or what is the subject of the painting? How would you describe them?
• What is the mood of the artwork? What sounds, smells, feelings, tastes could
you associate with it?
• Now that you have closely observed the artwork, how would you summarize its main idea?
To Read More about Edvard Munch
TASK: Now, your job is to choose a famous piece of artwork and write a poem or song based on your reaction to this piece. Answer the questions above and practice what we modeled in class to help you get started.
Some places to look for famous artwork:
100 Greatest Paintings of All Time
Famous Paintings
Top 100 Masterpieces
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