Visual Analysis Terminology

Question 1

What is the definition of ‘composition’ in art?

Answer 1

The arrangement of elements within a work of art.

Question 2

Chiaroscuro

Answer 2

An Italian term that means “light-dark” and is usually applied when there is a strong, dramatic contrast of light and dark in a painting or drawing.

Question 3

What is ‘iconography’?

Answer 3

The study of symbols and imagery in art.

Question 4

Which term describes the visual weight of elements in a composition?

Answer 4

Balance

Question 5

What is the purpose of ‘contrast’ in art?

Answer 5

To highlight differences between elements, enhancing visual interest.

Question 6

Entablature

Answer 6

a horizontal, continuous lintel on a classical building supported by columns or a wall, comprising the architrave, frieze, and cornice.

Question 7

Which style of art is characterized by exaggerated forms and vibrant colors, often seen in the works of Van Gogh?

Answer 7

Post-Impressionism

Question 8

True or False: ‘Fresco’ is a technique of mural painting on wet plaster.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

What is ‘style’ in the context of art history?

Answer 9

A distinctive manner of expression characteristic of a particular artist, period, or movement.

Question 10

True or False: ‘Surrealism’ aims to resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Fill in the blank: ‘____ is the visual representation of an idea or concept in art.’

Answer 11

Symbolism

Question 12

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a characteristic of Baroque art? A) Simplicity B) Dramatic lighting C) Flat colors D) Minimalism

Answer 12

B) Dramatic lighting

Question 13

What is ‘motif’ in art?

Answer 13

A recurring theme, subject, or idea in a work of art.

Question 14

True or False: ‘Cubism’ breaks objects down into geometric shapes and reassembles them in abstract forms.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

What does ‘narrative’ mean in art?

Answer 15

The story or sequence of events depicted in a work of art.

Question 16

What is the definition of BALANCE in art?

Answer 16

The equilibrium of different elements in a piece

Balance can involve symmetry or asymmetry to create visual stability.

Question 17

What does PROPORTION refer to in art?

Answer 17

The size relationships between different elements in a piece

Proportion affects how elements relate to each other in size and scale.

Question 18

Explain RHYTHM in visual art.

Answer 18

The arrangement of elements at regular or irregular intervals to create a sense of movement

Rhythm can be created through repetition and variation.

Question 19

What is NEGATIVE SPACE?

Answer 19

The ‘empty’ space between visual elements in a piece

Negative space can define shapes and enhance the overall composition.

Question 20

What is an Outline in the context of line?

Answer 20

A line that defines the edge of a shape or form

Outlines help to define the contours of objects.

Question 21

Differentiate between Actual Line and Implied Line.

Answer 21

• Actual Line: A real, visible mark.

-Implied Line: A line suggested by the arrangement of elements or edges within an image

Implied lines guide the viewer’s eye without being explicitly drawn.

Question 22

What does FORM refer to in art?

Answer 22

The illusion of the three-dimensional quality of an object, height, width and depth

Form can be geometric or organic.

Question 23

What are the two types of forms?

Answer 23

• Geometric form: Regular, mathematically defined
• Organic form: Irregular, natural and free flowing

Forms can be perceived through lighting and perspective.

Question 24

What is Implied Texture?

Answer 24

The visual representation of texture, created through techniques like brushstrokes, lines, and patterns

Implied texture gives the illusion of a surface feeling a certain way.

Question 25

What are the primary colors?

Answer 25

* Red * Blue * Yellow ## Footnote Primary colors cannot be made by mixing other colors.

Question 26

What does VALUE refer to in color theory?

Answer 26

the lightness or darkness of a colour/tone ## Footnote Value is essential for creating contrast and depth.

Question 27

What is a Monochromatic color scheme?

Answer 27

Variations of a single colour ## Footnote Monochromatic schemes create harmony and unity.

Question 28

Define SHAPE in art.

Answer 28

A two-dimensional, enclosed space defined by an outline or change in colour ## Footnote Shapes can be geometric or organic.

Question 29

What are Positive and Negative Shapes?

Answer 29

* Positive Shapes: The subject or object * Negative Shapes: The space around and in between objects ## Footnote Understanding these shapes is crucial for composition.

Question 30

What does MASS refer to in sculpture?

Answer 30

The solid, material bulk that occupies space and forms a sculpture's three-dimensional presence ## Footnote Mass gives weight and volume to sculptures.

Question 31

Differentiate between In Relief and In the Round forms in sculpture.

Answer 31

* In Relief: Forms that project from a flat surface * In the Round: Freestanding forms that can be viewed from all angles ## Footnote These distinctions affect how sculptures are perceived.

Question 32

What are AESTHETICS in architecture?

Answer 32

The ways in which a building or structure is designed to be attractive and appealing to the eye ## Footnote Aesthetics can include elements like color, texture, and form.

Question 33

Define STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY.

Answer 33

The components of a building or structure that support and distribute weight, ensuring the building is safe, stable and functional ## Footnote Structural integrity is critical for the longevity of a building.

Question 34

What does DIRECTION refer to in a structure?

Answer 34

The type of movement within a given space or structure ## Footnote Direction can guide how one navigates through a space.

Question 35

Podium

Answer 35

raised platform. Comprised of a stylobate and stereobates

Question 36

cornice

Answer 36

projecting molding on building (usually above columns or pillars). it serves to direct rainwater away from the monument

Question 37

frieze

Answer 37

ornamental band on a wall

Question 38

capital

Answer 38

the top element of a column

Question 39

shaft

Answer 39

body of a column

Question 40

flying buttresses

Answer 40

a buttress that stands apart from the main structure and connected to it by an arch

Question 41

tenebrism

Answer 41

dramatic use of intense darkness and light to heighten the impact of a painting

Question 42

nave

Answer 42

central area of a church

Question 43

Quatrefoil

Answer 43

A shape or plan in which the parts assume the form of a cloverleaf.

Question 44

Tracery

Answer 44

ornamental stone openwork, typically in the upper part of a Gothic window.

Question 45

triptych

Answer 45

A three-paneled painting or altarpiece.

Question 46

Controposto

Answer 46

An Italian term that means counterpoise and describes when a human figure’s weight is balanced more on one leg than the other, resulting in shoulders and arms off-axis to hips and legs. The stance is most famous in sculpture and goes back to the classical ages.

Question 47

Figurative Art

Answer 47

Usually this is a term mostly applied to paintings or sculptures. Specifically, it means the work is representational, in contrast to abstract art.

Question 48

Genre

Answer 48

A term with a confusing backstory in the visual arts. Historically it meant a painting of a person or people in everyday situations who were simply not identified. But it also encompasses still life painting, animal painting, and landscape and marine painting.

Question 49

impressionism

Answer 49

Impressionism was the 19th century art movement known for artists who produced paintings that were of everyday scenes, painted with small but visible brushstrokes, with an emphasis on the accurate depiction of light and its changeable nature.

Question 50

Perspective- Atmospheric and Linear

Answer 50

- Linear perspective conveys the illusion of space with receding parallel lines meeting at a vanishing point. - Atmospheric perspective addresses distance by changing colour tones and the level of detail employed to paint or draw an object.

Question 51

sfumato

Answer 51

soft transition between colours