Study Guide for Test 2: The Visual Arts, Sculpture, and Architecture

These flashcards cover vocabulary, important artists, significant works, and key concepts related to the visual arts, sculpture, and architecture.

What is Photojournalism?

A form of journalism that uses photographs to tell a news story.

Define Chiaroscuro.

The use of strong contrasts between light and dark to give the illusion of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects and figures.

What is Watercolor?

A painting method using pigments suspended in a water-based solution.

Define Printmaking.

A technique that involves making artworks by printing, normally on paper.

What does Perspective refer to in art?

A technique for representing three-dimensional objects on a flat surface.

What is a Bearing Wall?

A wall that supports the weight of the structure above it.

Define Symmetry in art and architecture.

A balanced arrangement of elements on either side of a central axis.

What is meant by Linear Perspective?

A mathematical system for creating the illusion of space and depth on a flat surface.

Define Fresco.

A mural painting technique involving the application of water-based paints on freshly applied plaster.

What does Verisimilitude mean?

The appearance of being true or real; lifelike.

What is Abstract Expressionism?

An art movement that emphasizes spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation.

Who created the painting 'The Mona Lisa'?

Leonardo da Vinci.

What architectural style is characterized by pointed arches and flying buttresses?

Gothic Architecture.

What is the significance of the Parthenon?

An ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, representing classical architecture.

Define Cantilever in architecture.

A beam or structure supported on one end only.

What is Cubism?

An avant-garde movement pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, characterized by fragmented subject matter.

What is the role of light in Chiaroscuro?

To model three-dimensional objects through the use of light and shadow.

Who is known for 'The Night Watch'?

Rembrandt van Rijn.

What does the term 'Fauvism' refer to?

An early 20th-century art movement that emphasized bold color over realism.

What are the Qualities of Gothic Architecture?

Features such as ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and large stained-glass windows.

Name a key feature of Renaissance art.

A focus on humanism and the depiction of human figures in a naturalistic manner.

What sculpture is Michelangelo famous for?

His statue of David.

Visualization

The process of forming mental images or planning how an artwork will look before creating it.

Photogeny

The quality of looking attractive or visually pleasing in photographs.

Gouache

A type of watercolor paint that is thicker and opaque, producing more solid colors.

Acrylics

Fast-drying synthetic paints that can mimic oil or watercolor effects depending on how they are used.

Printmaking

The process of creating art by transferring ink from a prepared surface (like wood or metal) onto paper.

Line

A mark with length and direction that outlines shapes or creates movement in an artwork.

Symmetry

When both sides of an artwork or design are balanced and mirror each other.

Perspective

A technique used to create the illusion of depth and distance on a flat surface.

Linear Perspective

A system of perspective where parallel lines appear to meet a vanishing point to create depth.

Relief Sculpture

Sculpture that projects from a flat background rather than standing freely.

Architecture

The art and science of designing and constructing buildings.

Tensile strength

The ability of a material to resist being pulled apart or stretched.

Skeleton Frame

A building structure where the weight is supported by a frame of steel or concrete rather than the walls.

Façade

The front or main exterior face of a building.

Buttress

A support built against a wall to strengthen it and help hold up the structure.

Context

The historical, cultural, or social background that helps explain an artwork.

Space

The area within, around, or between objects in an artwork.

Fluting

Vertical grooves carved into columns, commonly seen in Greek architecture.

Contrapposto

A sculpture pose where the figure stands with weight on one leg, creating a natural and relaxed stance.

Didactic

Art intended to teach a moral, religious, or educational lesson.

Byzantine Iconoclasm

A historical movement in the Byzantine Empire that rejected and destroyed religious images.

Clerestory Windows

High windows placed above eye level that allow light into large buildings like churches.

Continuous Narration

A storytelling technique where multiple events appear in one image with the same characters repeated.

Sfumato

A painting technique that uses soft, blurred edges to create smooth transitions between colors and tones.

Aristocratic Baroque

A style of Baroque art associated with royal courts and aristocracy, emphasizing luxury and grandeur.

Bourgeois Baroque

Baroque art focused on middle-class life, often showing everyday scenes and domestic settings.

Rococo

A decorative 18th-century art style known for light colors, playful themes, and elaborate ornamentation.

Pointillism

A painting technique using small dots of color that blend together when viewed from a distance.

Prairie Style

An architectural style created by Frank Lloyd Wright featuring horizontal lines and designs that blend with the landscape.

Cubism

An art movement that breaks objects into geometric shapes and shows multiple viewpoints at once.

Fauvism

An early modern art movement known for bold colors and expressive brushwork.

Abstract Expressionism

A modern art movement focusing on spontaneous, emotional expression through abstract forms and gestures.

Portrait

Painting of a person.

Genre Painting

Scenes from everyday life.