Chapter 1: Understanding Art Flashcards
subject
the themes or objects being depicted
genres
categories of artistic compositions characterized by similarities in style or subject matter
abstract art
works whose shapes are distorted or converted into patterns that may be read by the viewer as interesting in their own right or as representing another vision of a subject
nonobjective art
art that is abstract and does not portray figures or objects from the visible world
content
all that is contained in a work of art
- visual elements
- subject matter
- underlying meaning or themes
form
the HOW of a work of art– the general structure and overall organization of a work
iconography
the study of themes and symbols– figures and images that, when deciphered, reveal the underlying meaning of a work of art
visual elements of art
- line
- shape
- value
- color
- texture
- space
- time and motion
principles of design
the visual strategies that, along with the elements of art, are used to construct a work of art
the principles of design include
- unity
- variety
- emphasis
- focal point
- balance
- rhythm
- scale
- proportion
line
the shortest distance between two points and is the thing created by the connection of these points
shape
in a two-dimensional work of art, a flat area is created when two ends of a line are connected, and an area is enclosed
value
describes the lightness or darkness of an image
color
the thing that the human eye and brain perceive that is associated with descriptive words like red, or blue, or yellow
texture
the surface character of materials as experienced by the senses of touch and sight
space
describes the area around or within the components of a work of art
time and motion
motion occurs over time and distance
unity
a sense of oneness or cohesiveness
variety
contrast and diversity
emphasis
an attention-grabbing aspect that directs the viewer’s eye to a particular area
focal point
the main point of interest in a work of art
balance
the distribution of weight– actual or visual– in a work of art
rhythm
describes the recurrent visual motifs and compositional accents, movement, and flow
scale
the size of something relative to the human dimensions of the viewer
proportion
comparative size of elements or images within a work of art in relation to each other or to the whole
medium
the material and tools that an artist uses to create a work of art
style
the signature look of an artist’s work
realism
a style characterized by accurate and truthful portrayal of subject matter
expressionism
a modern school of art in which an emotional impact is achieved through agitated brushwork, intense coloration, and violent, hallucinatory imagery
