Art appreciation
golden section
a unique ratio of a line divided into two parts so that a+b is to a as a is to b. the result is 1:1.618.
randomness
artist try to avoid predictable repetiton
balance
can be identified by noting differences between two halves of an object. a principle of art in which elements are used to create a symmetrical or asymmetrical sense of visual weight in an artwork.
gestalt
complete order and indivisible unity of all aspects of an artwork's design.
line
effective way to focus our attention in an artwork.
abstract
the degree to which an image is altered from an easily recognizable subject.
proportions
the relationship in size between a works individual parts and the whole.
format
the shape of the area an artist uses for making a two-dimensional artwork.
radial symmetry
achieved when all elements in a work are equidistant from a central point and repeat in a symmetrical way from side to side and top to bottom.
pattern
an arrangement of predictably repeated elements.
vanitas
an artwork in which the objects remind the viewer of the transience of life.
formal analysis
analyzes the artwork through interpretation of the mental state of the artist
Dada
anarchic anti-art and anti-war movement, dating back to World War 1, that reveled in absurdity and irrationality.
facade
any side of a building, usually the front or entrance.
representational
art that depicts figures and objects so that we recognize what is represented
non-objective
art that does not depict a recognizable subject.
feminist analysis
considers the role of women in an artwork as its subjects, creators, patrons, and viewers; it explores ways in which the work reflects the experience of women.
biographical analysis
considers whether the artists personal experiences and opinions may have affected the making or meaning of the artwork in some way.
placement
controls rhythm and creates multiple focal points.
monumental sculpture
having massive or impressive scale
fibonacci sequence
1,1,2,3,5,8,13
baroque
European artistic and architectural style of the late 16th to early 18th century, characterized by extravagance and emotional intensity.
motif
a design repeated as a unit in a pattern
iconographic analysis
interprets objects and figures in the artwork as signs or symbols, often based on religious or historical contexts that would have been understood at the time when it was made.
contextual analysis
looks at the making and viewing of the work in its context (historical, religious, political, economic, social, and so on); it studies the context that the artwork itself represents.
hierarchical scale
refers to the deliberate use of relative size in a work in order to communicate differences in importance.
surrealism
surrealist movement in the 1970s. art inspired by dreams and the subconcious
focal point
the center of interest or activity in a work of art, often drawing the viewers attention to the most important element.
subordination
the opposite of emphasis; it draws our attention away form particular areas of a work.
compositional unity
the organization of all the visual aspects of a work. overall design or organization of a work.
irregular rythmn
makes a work seem unpredictable and makes the viewer seem uneas
direction
organized the elements in a work and draw attention to areas of emphasis and focal points.
"the school of Athens"
painted by Raphael and included Aristotle and Plato in the center.
dramatic contrast
positioning elements next to one another that are very different
conceptual unity
refers to the cohesive expression of ideas within a work of art