1 - Introduction to Art History

formal analysis

analyzing what the visual components of a piece accomplish

form

components: line, shape, color, texture, mass, space, volume, & composition

line

an element the length of which is so much greater than the width that we perceive it as having only length

• Actual: When the line is visible

• Implied: When the movement of the viewer’s eyes over the surface of a work follows a path determined by the artist

• lines can be diagonal, horizontal, curvilinear, thick, thin, etc.

shape

the two-dimensional, or flat, area defined by the borders of an enclosing outline or contour

• can be geometric/regular, biomorphic/organic/irregular, closed, or open

color

includes hue, value, and saturation

hue

the exact shade of a color

value

the lightness or darkness of a hue. 

• High: closer to white

• Low: closer to black

saturation

the quality or brightness/darkness of a hue (aka intensity)

• *black and white don’t count because they are not hues*

biomorphic

describes shapes derived from organic or natural forms

geometric

normal shaped (textbook definition)

real texture

the texture of the actual surface of the artwork

• i.e. fur is soft

implied texture

illusionistically described surface of objects represented in an artwork

• i.e. a painting of fur looks soft

real mass

how dense an object is

implied mass

the visual mass of the artwork

space (depth)

Ways in which a 2-dimensional piece is made to look 3-dimensional

• consists of: diminution, atmospheric perspective, vertical perspective, overlap, 1 and 2 point perspective, modeling, and foreshortening

diminution

the systematic de-scaling of something in the background

atmospheric perspective

things meant to be farther away appear hazy and less detailed

vertical perspective

things towards the top of the image are farther away, while things towards the bottom of the image are closer

overlap

the object on the top is closer

1 and 2 point perspective

a system of perspective that utilizes a single vanishing point and causes parts of the image to look as if they recede into the distance

modeling

making something look 3-dimensional, whether via shading or carving

foreshortening

rendering objects so they appear to recede in three-dimensional space

composition

the organization, or arrangement of forms in a work of art; how formal elements interact to create an effect/piece

realism

a *mid-nineteenth century artistic movement* characterized by subjects painted from everyday life in a naturalistic manner

representational

artwork that clearly depicts real objects

naturalism

artist’s attempts to represent the observable world in a manner that appears to describe its visual appearance accurately

idealization

strives to create images of physical perfection according to the prevailing values or tastes of a culture

abstract

art that does not represent an accurate depiction of visual reality, communicating instead through lines, shapes, colors, forms, and gestural marks

partial abstraction

features identifiable objects, people, or landscapes, but these have often been simplified, distorted, taken out of context, or rendered in non-realistic colors

full abstraction

does not draw any inspiration from visual reality

expressionism

styles in which the artist exaggerates aspects of form to draw out the beholder’s subjective response or to project the artist’s own subjective feelings

linear style

using line as the primary means of definition

painterly style

a style of representation in which vigorous, evident brushstrokes dominate, and outlines, shadows, and highlights are brushed in freely

content

artworks that communicate ideas, convey feelings or affirm the beliefs and values of their makers, their patrons, and usually the people who originally viewed or used them