Griselda Pollock: Article Analysis

The article Artists Mythologies and Media Genius, Madness and Art History (1980) by Griselda Pollock is a forty page essay where Pollock (1980), argues and explains her views on the crucial question, "how art history works" (Pollock, 1980, p.57). She emphasizes that there should be changes to the practice of art history and uses Van Gogh as a major example in her study. Her thesis is to prove that the meaning behind artworks should not be restricted only to the artist who creates it, but also to realize what kind of economical, financial, social situation the artist may have been in to influence the subject that is used. (Pollock, 1980, pg. 57) She explains her views through this thesis and further develops this idea by engaging in scholarly

One example that shows how she is doing this is when she refers to a paper titled 'Remarks on the Method of Art History' by "the marxist art historian Frederick Antal" (Pollock, 1980, pg.58). In this paper, she pulls out a relatively long quotation based on how Antal claims that if any other field of study were introduced to how art history is read, it would be rejected by art historians. Later, Pollock explains that Antal believes there are only two ways of describing its history and nothing more; either the artist’s life explains the works or a collection of artworks is depicting the artist (Pollock, 1980, pg. 58). After citing the quotation, she goes on to explaining her remarks on the example and how it is fairly common to see similar explanations in other art history

She uses sources from researchers and historians from different areas of study. Some art historians she quotes from include Fredick Antal, Fritz Novotny and A M Hammacher whom explains Van Gogh’s artwork based on his emotions and feelings. She also quotes researchers such as doctors, philosopher like Karl Jaspers, Rey and Peyron as well as writers such as Meyer Schapiro who tries looking at his works on a psychological level. The quotes she takes are relatively long and can take up as much as half a page and are quotes which she later disregards and argues that it is incorrect. By doing this, she is proving her point that she is right and those researchers have to look deeper into the meaning. The tone of voice that Pollock use in her article is a formal yet strong persuasive voice. For much of her writing, she takes on a quote from her source and counter-argues against it, which some readers may question who is correct. She also consistently refers back to Van Gogh as well as points she previously made to try to get point across. Pollock refers back to her previous points possibly to try to emphasis the point she is trying to make as well as emphasis their important to art