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