Art Appreciation 1.5-1.10

gothic

Western European architectural style of the twelfth to sixteenth century, characterized by the use of pointed arches and ornate decoration (See Chapter 1.7, page 148)

Gestalt

complete order and indivisible unity of all aspects of an artwork's design (See Chapter 1.6, page 131)

Interpretation

explaining or translating a work of art, using factual research, personal response, or a combination of the two (See Chapter 1.10, page 189)

monumental

having massive or impressive scale (See Chapter 1.7, page 146)

Mobile

suspended moving sculptures, usually impelled by natural air currents

Depth

the degree of recession in perspective (See Chapter 1.10, page 190)

Anamorphosis

the distorted representation of an object so that it appears correctly proportioned only when viewed from one particular position (See Chapter 1.10, page 183)

Unity

the imposition of order and harmony on a design (See Chapter 1.6, page 131)

Content

the meaning, message, or feeling expressed in a work of art (See Chapter 1.10, page 185)

Subordination

the opposite of emphasis; it draws our attention away from particular areas of a work (See Chapter 1.8, page 156)

middle ground

the part of a work between the foreground and background (See Chapter 1.9, page 171)

Vanishing point

the point in a work of art at which imaginary sight lines appear to converge, suggesting depth (See Chapter 1.10, page 190)

emphasis

the principle of drawing attention to particular content within a work (See Chapter 1.8, page 156)

Positive-negative

the relationship between contrasting opposites

proportion

the relationship in size between a work's individual parts and the whole (See Chapter 1.7, page 146)

Memento mori

Latin phrase that means "remember that you must die." In artworks, such symbols as skulls, flowers, and clocks are used to represent the transient nature of life on Earth (See Chapter 1.10, page 182)

motion

The effect of changing placement in time

Motif

a design or color repeated as a unit in a pattern (See Chapter 1.6, page 140)

Installation

a line not actually drawn but suggested by elements in the work

Grid

a network of horizontal and vertical lines; in an artwork's composition, the lines are implied (See Chapter 1.6, page 131)

classical period

a period in the history of Greek art, c.Ê480-323 BCE (See Chapter 1.7, page 150)

Renaissance

a period of cultural and artistic change in Europe from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century (See Chapter 1.6, page 135)

Balance

a principle of art in which elements are used to create a symmetrical or asymmetrical sense of visual weight in an artwork (See Chapter 1.10, page 191)

Taoism

a religion that emphasizes living in harmony through the Tao, or "Way," by balancing opposing forces (Yin and Yang) (See Chapter 1.8, page 156)

Mandala

a sacred diagram of the universe, often involving a square and a circle (See Chapter 1.6, page 144)

Still life

a scene of inanimate objects, such as fruits, flowers, or motionless animals (See Chapter 1.6, page 134)

cast

a sculpture or artwork made by pouring a liquid (for example molten metal or plaster) into a mold (See Chapter 1.7, page 150)

Mime

a silent performance work; actors use only body movements and facial expressions

Op art

a style of art that exploits the physiology of seeing in order to create illusory optical effects

Linear perspective

a system using converging imaginary sight lines to create the illusion of depth (See Chapter 1.10, page 190)

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 (See Chapter 1.7, page 152)

Performance art

a work involving the human body, usually including the artist, in front of an audience

Futurism, Futurist

an artistic and social movement, originating in Italy in 1909, passionately in favor of everything modern; Futurists were artists working in this style

Expressionism, Expressionist

an artistic style at its height in 1920s Europe, devoted to representing subjective emotions and experiences instead of objective or external reality (See Chapter 1.10, page 189)

Triptych

an artwork comprising three painted or carved panels, normally joined together and sharing a common theme (See Chapter 1.10, page 181)

Found image or object

an image or art object found by an artist and presented, with little or no alteration, as part of a work or as a finished work of art in itself (See Chapter 1.6, page 136)

Formal analysis

analysis of the form or visual appearance of a work of art using the visual language of elements and principles (See Chapter 1.10, page 178)

bioart

art that is created with living, changing organisms

Kinetic art

art, usually three-dimensional, with moving parts, impelled by wind, personal interaction, or motors

format

the shape of the area an artist uses for making a two-dimensional artwork (See Chapter 1.7, page 150)

Kinetic sculpture

threedimensional art that moves, impelled by air currents, motors, or people