The comparative study is a critical and contextual investigation of other artists’ works. It is worth 20% of the marks you receive for your visual arts course. You will choose art and/or artifacts by different artists and from different cultures to analyse and compare. If you are taking the subject at higher level (HL) you will also show how these artists have influenced your art. Standard level (SL) students do not do this last part. Through the comparative study you investigate the meanings and practices of art from different times and cultures. This will develop your analytical skills so that you can better understand the connections between making art and experiencing art. It will also develop your communication skills so that you can articulate your art ideas and intentions more clearly. You will move from description to interpretation. The comparative study is uploaded for assessment as a PDF document. SL students submit 10–15 screens that examine and compare a minimum of three artworks, objects or artifacts, at least two of which need to be by different artists. The works selected for comparison and analysis should come from different cultural contexts. In addition to this requirement, HL students submit 3–5 screens that analyse the extent to which their work and practices have been inuenced by the artworks examined. There is no word limit – this is not an essay, although it might contain sections of more extended writing. You may well prefer annotation and visual presentations to communicate your ideas.