Style refers to the handling of distinctive elements and particular media throughout the various artistic periods
Works of art are said to have style and form
Thus, they communicate a certain content
We will look at each of these in more detail
Representational Art- a type of art in which the subject is presented through the visual art elements so that the observer is reminded of actual objects.
Realism (trompe l’oeil)
Expressionistic Art
Art that is representational can also be called naturalistic because it is essentially a description of things visually experienced
1. Subject refers to the persons or things represented, as well as the artist’s experiences, that serve as inspiration. Subject is the “what” of the artwork: a landscape, the human figure, color-shape etc.
In abstract or nonobjective forms of art, subject refers to the visual signs employed by the artist. Color, line etc. the elements we think of as form, become the subject in cases like this.
2. Form- this is something we have been talking about in the last two chapters, the elements and principles of art and composition. It may help to think of form as the “how” or an artwork.
3. Meaning and theme may be employed by the artist to give us a message or concept idea. This is the “why” of the work. The meaning of a work may be very obvious, underlying, or altogether unidentifiable. It is always good to try to understand “why” an artist has made a work. What is he/she trying to tell us, or bring to our attention.
In this work by Rodin and the next by Brancusi you will see the same subject (two embracing, figures kissing). In terms of form, they are very different. Rodin’s sculpture employs organic, curving, open naturalistic forms. Brancusi’s sculpture is geometric, closed and simplified. The meaning or theme of the two sculptures is very different as well. Rodin expresses the feeling of love or passion, while Brancusi expresses the idea of love.
Iconography is the study of the themes and symbols in the visual arts-the figures and images that lend works their underlying meanings.
To us this painting may just look like a painting of two people who lived a long time ago. This northern renaissance painting is a good example of how iconography can be used. At the time of its creation, many of the iconographic objects used by Van Eyck would have been easily recognized and understood for their significance.
To make the relationships more clear I will list a few uses of iconography and corresponding meanings:
Dog-fidelity/loyalty
Single lit candle in chandelier- presence of Christ
Green dress- fertility
Holding skirt in front of abdomen- willingness to bear children
Amber beads hanging on wall- purity
Fruit near window-fertility, fruitfulness
Shoes taken off-standing on holy ground, sanctity and sacredness of marriage
What is interesting about this painting is that it serves as a marriage document. It records an actual event. The circular mirror on the back wall even show us the artist and another figure, telling us that they are witnesses. Van Eyck signs the painting in a very unusual place, just above the mirror, another testimony to his witnessing the marriage.
This is another example I like to use as an example of the use of iconography. In this print we clearly see a knight on his horse. He represents the good Christian who follow the right path despite the persistence of death and the devil. You may notice a corpse like creature with snake-like hair holding an hourglass. He represents death and evil and the hour glass signifies human mortality. Again we see a dog, the embodiment of faithfulness or fidelity. There are many other iconographic representations of these opposing good and evil forces in this work.