Unit Title Iconography in Art

Year MYP 4

Task Understanding an artwork

Assessment Formative criteria

Task Description:

Below you will find questions that refer to a specific artwork made by Johannes Vermeer, called the

woman holding a balance. You’ll find a image of the artwork on the second page.

Follow the instructions step by step and answer the questions (there are no wrong answers), just fill

in what you think but try to answer in sentences and not just yes or no. Do this task individually, so

don’t discuss with your peers.

Before looking at the painting:

Answer the questions below in your developmental workbook and think about a good lay-out for your

page. (you don’t have to copy the questions but it should be clear that you have given an answer to

all question, try to make a story out of your answers)

- How important is it to understand what the artist tried to tell you with his/her work?

- Does understanding an artwork, increases it’s value to you?

Look at the painting:

Cut out the painting on the second page and stick it in your developmental workbook along with the

source acknowledgement, then answer the following questions and write down the answers in your

workbook.

- What was the first thing you noticed while looking at this artwork?

- What do you see in this painting, try to describe all the elements?

- What could you think these elements symbolize?

- In general what do you think the artist is trying to show you with this artwork?

Watch this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO1I1dN0DaA)

Watch the video first before answering the question below, then write down your answers in your

developmental workbook

- What did you found out about this painting, any new things that you didn’t notice before?

- Do your answers to the question before watching the video show any similarities, if yes,

what?

- What new symbols did you found out about?

- Does understanding what the artwork is about increases it’s value to you?

Assessment criteria:

Vermeer, Johannes. The Woman Holding a Balance. 1664. Oil on Canvas. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.