Unit Test 1 - terms Flashcards
What is the process of Formal analysis in art?
Examining medium and material. Physical properties of the art.
Formal analysis focuses on the visual elements and the materials used in the artwork.
Define ‘Medium’ in the context of art.
The generalized type of an artwork.
Examples of mediums include painting, sculpture, and printmaking.
What does ‘Shape’ refer to in art?
The external form of an object or figure.
Shapes can be geometric or organic.
What is ‘Contour’ in art?
The outline that defines a form.
Contours help to establish the shape and boundaries of an object.
What is a ‘Pattern’ in an artwork?
Recurring arrangements in an artwork.
Patterns can enhance visual interest and rhythm in art.
What does ‘Contextual analysis’ involve?
Considering relationship to context. Everything outside the art.
This includes the artist’s surroundings and motives.
What is ‘Naturalism’ in art?
Represents something realistically. We can recognize, interpret it.
Naturalism aims to depict subjects as they appear in nature.
What does ‘Expressionism’ convey?
Showing emotion.
Expressionism seeks to express the emotional experience rather than physical reality.
Define ‘Composition’ in the context of art.
Overall arrangement of the image; the organization of elements in a work of art.
Composition is crucial for creating balance and harmony in an artwork.
What is meant by ‘Subject matter’?
The subject of an artwork.
Subject matter can be anything from a landscape to a portrait.
What does ‘Background’ refer to in an artwork?
The portions of an artwork behind and around the subject.
The background helps to provide context and depth to the artwork.
What does ‘Idealized’ mean in art?
A depiction that is more perfect than the actual subject.
Idealization often represents the subject in an enhanced or perfected form.
What is a ‘Palette’ in art?
The artist’s choice of colors for an artwork.
The palette can greatly affect the mood and tone of the artwork.
Define ‘Canon’ in the context of art.
A set of what are regarded as especially significant artwork.
The canon influences art education and cultural value.
What is a ‘Petroglyph’?
An image created on a rock surface through incision, picking, carving, abrading.
Petroglyphs are ancient forms of communication and artistic expression.
What does ‘Schematic’ mean in art?
Depicted in a simplified, graphical form.
Schematic representations often focus on essential elements rather than detailed realism.
What is meant by ‘Monumental’ in art?
Having massive or impressive size or context.
Monumental artworks often convey grandeur and significance.
Define ‘Rock-cut’ in the context of art.
Carved from stone where it naturally occurs.
Rock-cut art includes sculptures and architecture that utilize natural rock formations.
What is a ‘Facade’?
Any exterior, vertical face of the building, usually the front.
The facade often reflects the architectural style and character of the building.
What is a ‘Pediment’?
The triangular structure on top of a columned porch, doorway, or window.
Pediments are common in classical architecture.
Who is a ‘Patron’ in the art world?
An institution or individual that commissions or funds an artwork.
Patrons have historically played a significant role in the creation of art.
Define ‘Motif’ in art.
A distinctive subject or visual element appearing in an artwork.
Motifs can be repeated throughout an artwork or across an artist’s body of work.
What does ‘Mass’ refer to in sculptures?
3D volumes or dense aggregations of matter or material.
Mass contributes to the physical presence and weight of a sculpture.
Identify the title, date, artist, and medium of ‘Women with Dead Child’.
Kaethe Kollwitz, 1903. Soft-ground etching, printed in black and overworked in green and gold wash on paper.
This artwork portrays themes of grief and loss.
What is the significance of the posture in ‘Women with Dead Child’?
Posture is hunched down, holding the body tightly.
This conveys a sense of sorrow and protectiveness.
What is the context behind Kaethe Kollwitz’s work?
Kollwitz saw a lot of suffering including economic troubles, illness, and death.
Her art reflects the struggles of those around her.
Identify the title, date, artist, and medium of ‘Cake Man’.
Yinka Shonibare CBE, 2013. Fibreglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, plaster, polystyrene, pocketwatch, globe, leather and steel baseplate.
This work comments on cultural identity and historical narratives.
What is the formal analysis of the ‘Cake Man’ artwork?
Colors, material, posture, Dutch wax printed cotton textile.
The use of Dutch wax fabric connects to colonial history.
Identify the title and cultural context of the ‘Ceremonial Wooden board (malu)’.
Ceremonial Wooden board (malu) from Sawos, Papua New Guinea. Used for commemorating someone.
It was part of initiation ceremonies for manhood.
What is the context of the ‘Courtyard of Al-Attarine’?
A Muslim religious school, designed for cooling off in hot, crowded, and noisy areas.
The courtyard serves both functional and aesthetic purposes.
What culture is associated with the time period of 16,000 - 8,000 BCE?
Magdalénien Culture
This culture emerged after the ice age in Europe.
Where were remains of the Magdalénien Culture found?
Southern France and Northern Spain
These locations are significant for enhancing the world of caves.
What is ochre?
A mineral with pigment that comes in yellowish brown, red, and other colors.
It was believed to have spiritual properties.
How was ochre used in burials?
Bodies were found covered in ochre to ensure safe passage to the afterlife.
What are cave paintings believed to represent?
Representations of cultures, though the identity of the painters is unknown.
What were possible purposes of cave paintings?
Ceremonies, ancestor worship, ancestor communication, summoning animals for hunts, preparation for hunts, and promoting fertility.
What is the significance of hand imprints in cave art?
They are part of the cultural expressions found in caves.
What is the Chauvet Caves’ approximate date?
ca. 20,000-16,000 BCE
This site is located in France.
What is the significance of the Pont d’Arc near the Chauvet Caves?
It is a rock bridge believed to hold some significance.
What materials were used in the Chauvet Caves?
Charcoal and minerals in the soil, along with limestone and calcite rocks.
Why did people not live in the decorated caves?
The caves were humid, dark, and had no ventilation.
What might the decorated caves represent?
An art gallery, place of worship, account of history, or educational site.
What does the remoteness of cave sites suggest?
They were likely ritualistic and only accessible to elites.
What was the purpose of the images in the caves?
To communicate traditions and stories through drawings related to rituals, ancestor communication, and preparation for hunts.
What is agro-pastoralism?
Food farming with animal herding.
What activities are women responsible for in agro-pastoral societies?
Everyday life activities like weaving, basket making, harvesting, grinding, etc.
What significant changes occurred during the Agro-pastoral Revolution?
Labor relationship change between male and female, transforming landscape through irrigation, construction of walls and fences, granaries, pottery as a new artistic form, and ability to produce food as a symbol of civilization.
What is a granary?
A structure for storing grains, first established in 9000 BCE in Dhra, Jordan.
What materials were used in the construction of the first granary?
Stone on the bottom, with a floor over it for protection from flooding, mice, etc.
What is a key feature of granaries to preserve grains?
Grains survive if there is no moisture.
Describe the Village Granary in Burkina Faso.
A structure with a lid and a ladder to reach inside.
What is unique about Ethiopian granaries as of 2007?
They are in the shape of big elevated baskets.
What is the communal aspect of granaries?
Grains belong to everyone.
What problems can arise with communal granaries?
Taking more than needed, taking care of it to keep it dry and safe, and periods of shortages.
What emerged as a result of managing resources in agrarian societies?
Emergence of ‘Chiefs’ to control and manage resources.
How was grain viewed in agrarian societies?
Grain was considered a deity.
Who was the goddess associated with grain in Greek mythology?
Goddess Demeter – Greek goddess of harvest, agriculture, fertility, cycle of life and death.
What is the Fertile Crescent?
Present day Levant and Middle East, from the middle of Turkey down to the hills of Iraq and Iran.
What is obsidian?
A volcanic rock found in volcanic regions.
What is significant about Çatal Hüyük?
A village at the origin of a trade network of commodities moving South, with tightly packed houses and art in wall paintings.
What unique architectural feature did Çatal Hüyük houses have?
No doors; ladders to roofs that are connected, creating a sense of communality.
What materials were used to construct the units in Çatal Hüyük?
Mudbrick.
What type of art was found in Çatal Hüyük?
Art in wall paintings, including a mural painting of a red bull chased by hunters.
What was traded in Çatal Hüyük?
Obsidian.
What is irrigation?
The process of making land usable.
What is a weir dam?
A structure used to control water flow in irrigation.
What is an Extreme Landscape?
An area between the Tigres and Euphrates rivers where several cities developed due to trade opportunities, despite the challenges posed by the marshlands.
What is Irrigation?
The process of channeling water for agriculture, which requires continuous infrastructure.
What is a Risk Economy?
An economy based on risky enterprises with low probability of success but potentially high rewards.
What is a Theocracy?
A government where a deity is recognized as the ruler, and officials are considered divinely guided.
What is Cuneiform?
The first writing system developed for bookkeeping and exchange, primarily for recording transactions.
Who are the Sumerians?
An ancient people of Mesopotamia known for their contributions to early civilization.
What is Mesopotamia?
A historical region located between the Tigres and Euphrates rivers, known as the cradle of civilization.
What are Votive Figures?
Figures from Tell Asmar, Iraq, dating c. 2750-2650 BCE, made of gypsum, used in worship.
What is Eridu?
The earliest city in Sumer, established around 3500 BCE, known for its canals and religious significance.
What is the significance of temples in Mesopotamian cities?
Temples served as economic centers, required purification rituals, and were dedicated to specific deities.
What is a Ziggurat?
A large mudbrick temple in Ur, symbolizing the connection between priests and the divine.
What is the role of the priestly class in Mesopotamian society?
They acted as corporate owners and producers, managing temple economies and agricultural lands.
What was the purpose of purification rituals?
To prepare worshipers for entrance into the sacred areas of the temple.
What are the three factors that led to the emergence of the first cities in Mesopotamia?
Agriculture, agro-engineering/water management, and theocracy.
What is the significance of the Head of an Akkadian Ruler?
A c. 2250-2220 BCE copper alloy sculpture representing one of the earliest human forms in art.
What is the City by Michael Heizer?
A 2022 urban layout project that lacks people and structures, raising questions about the definition of a city.
What is the significance of Gudea, Ruler of Lagash?
A ruler from 2144-2124 BCE depicted in a position of worship, symbolizing divine favor.
What is the function of votive figurines?
To represent individuals in worship, allowing continued adoration even after leaving the temple.
What is formal analysis in art?
The examination of physical properties of art, such as color, texture, and composition.
What is contextual analysis in art?
The study of the surrounding circumstances and influences that affect the creation of art.
