ART: Chapter 2

Flashcards providing vocabulary terms and definitions related to the purposes and functions of art, based on 'Prebles’ Artforms Twelfth Edition Chapter 2'.

Art for Daily Use

The function of art to transform objects for daily utility, often through design and embellishment.

Eva Zeisel, Sauce Boat with Ladle

An example of an everyday object transformed by art, described as 'a playful search for beauty.'

George Nakashima, Conoid Chair

An example of art for daily use, demonstrating a radical shape given to a common seat.

Embellishment

The artistic decoration of everyday things, driven by creativity and societal value for adorned objects.

Frank Lloyd Wright, Hollyhock House

An architectural example where a dwelling's surroundings are made distinctive through a repeated design scheme, serving a daily use function.

Art for Visual Delight

The function of art whose primary goal is to captivate and please the viewer, often appreciated independently of practical, moral, or political concerns.

Aesthetics

A branch of philosophy dedicated to studying how and why artworks are considered beautiful.

Idealism (in art)

The concept that beauty is found in something ideal or close to perfection, commonly seen in ancient Greek art.

Charioteer sculpture

An ancient Greek artwork exemplifying idealism through its balance and quiet dignity.

Harmony (in art)

A pleasing balance or harmonious proportions, often achieved through color balance and compositional arrangements.

Claude Lorrain, Ascanius Shooting the Stag of Silvia

An artwork showcasing visual delight through harmonious colors, balanced composition, and diffused light, contributing to the 'picturesque' style.

Art for Communicating Information

The function of art used to impart information and ideas, historically serving as a primary source for visual representation before photography.

Storytelling (in art)

A function of art that recounts personal, moral, or historical narratives to viewers.

Titian, Bacchus and Ariadne

An artwork famous for recounting a mythological story.

Carrie Mae Weems, The Kitchen Table Series

A series of photographs that reveal the lives of other people, communicating aspects of everyday existence.

Commentary (in art)

Art intended to speak in an easy-to-understand language, with its primary purpose being communication and often exposing societal issues.

William Hogarth, Gin Lane

An artwork serving as social commentary by exposing the horrors of excess.

Chris Jordan, Midway: Message from the Gyre series

An artwork informing viewers about human impact on the landscape, specifically plastic pollution.

Art for Public and Personal Expression

The use of art for both communal commemoration and individual self-expression.

Commemoration (in art)

The function of art to honor or preserve the memory of a person, event, or group, frequently seen in monuments.

Taj Mahal

A monument built to commemorate a ruler's favorite wife.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Maya Lin)

A memorial bearing the names of servicemen and women, serving a commemorative and emotional function for public remembrance.

Self-Expression (in art)

One of art's most common functions, where an artist conveys their personality, feelings, or worldview.

Frida Kahlo, The Broken Column

An artwork noted for its profound self-expression, reflecting the artist's personal pain and experience.

Wassily Kandinsky, Composition

An artwork seeking to convey the artist's inner feelings and connect with viewers on an emotional level.

Totem poles of Pacific Northwest native peoples

Artworks illustrating crests or legends associated with a family's history, serving both commemorative and expressive functions within a community.

Art for the Spirit

The use of art to meet religious and spiritual needs, often manifested in places of worship, ritual tools, or expressions of spirituality.

Worship and Ritual (in art)

The function of art in creating visually striking buildings for gathering or crafting tools for religious rites.

Sainte-Chapelle in Paris

A building exemplifying art for worship, designed to resemble a giant jewel-box and function as a storehouse for precious relics.

Moon Mask (Eskimo peoples)

An example of a ritual tool from the Arctic region, demonstrating creativity focused on spiritual practices.

Shirazeh Houshiary, Ancient Light

A contemporary artwork described as being 'about presence,' illustrating art for spirituality.

Nancy Holt, Sun Tunnels

An earthwork that expresses and represents the vastness of the landscape, serving a spiritual function.

Art for Political Purposes

The use of art to express political goals or ideals, ranging from persuasion to protest and encouragement of revolt.

Persuasion (in political art)

The use of art to invite and urge viewers to adopt certain thoughts or actions, frequently employed by authorities.

Plaques Showing the Oba Holding Leopards (Benin)

Artworks that decorated palaces of rulers, used to express and reinforce their authority.

United States Supreme Court Building

An example of architecture that uses art and design to express the authority of government.

Protest (in political art)

Art created by artists involving themselves in contemporary politics, often challenging authority or societal norms.

Rodney McMillian, Untitled (The Supreme Court Painting)

An artwork that protests against court decisions on voting rights and election districting.

Käthe Kollwitz

An artist who dedicated her career to politically charged art, creating prints that encouraged workers and peasants to protest and struggle, even under Nazi suppression.

The Outbreak (Käthe Kollwitz)

A print from Kollwitz's 'The Peasants’ War' series, serving as a powerful example of art for political protest.