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