LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO ART

READING VISUAL ART – refers to the process of interpreting and understanding the
meaning behind an artwork.

VISUAL ART – is a form of communication and like any other form of communication, it
requires a sender and a receiver.
- The artist creates the artwork as the sender, and the viewer or audience serves as the
receiver.

ART – A form of human expression encompassing a wide range of creative activities.

- A creative expression of imagination, emotions, and ideas.
- Can be visual, auditory, or performance-based.
- Encompasses painting, sculpture, literature, music, dance, and film.
- Is more than just useful-its aesthetically pleasing.

SUBJECTIVITY OF ART – The concept of art is subjective.

- It varies across individuals, cultures, and historical periods.
- Personal interpretation is central to experiencing art.

ART IN DIGITAL WORLD – We inhabit an ever-evolving world where images play a

significant role.
- We can instantly send and receive sounds, videos, and text messages thanks to the
growing use of PERSONAL ELECTRONICS.
- Advertising’s power is recognized by corporations and governments globally.

ANDY WARHOL – Andy Warhol’s prediction “In the future, everyone will be world-famous
for fifteen minutes."
- Personal electronics have fulfilled Warhol’s vision. Technology now rivals professional
studios from 20 years ago.

CONSISTENCY IN VISUAL ARTS – Despite our sophisticated technical abilities, the

fundamental dynamics of visual art remains constant.

1
WHAT IS ART?

ART – is a diverse range of human activities involving the creation of visual, auditory, or
performance-based works that express ideas, emotions, or experiences.

ART AS REFLECTION OF CULTURE & SOCIETY

- It is a reflection of cultural, social, and historical contexts.

THE EVOLUTION OF ART

- Art has been a part of human culture since the earliest times and has evolved over the
centuries, influenced by various factors including religious beliefs, political movements,
and technological advancements.

MOVEMENTS & STYLE IN ART

- Art is often categorized into different periods, styles, and movements.

ART IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

- Today, art continues to play an important role in society, serving as a means of self-
expression, a form of entertainment, and a medium for social and political commentary.

 VISUAL ART – is created primarily for visual perception, encompassing forms like
painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking. It can be two-dimensional (e.g.,
paintings) or three-dimensional (e.g., sculptures).

 PERFORMING ART – is any form of art that is created to be performed in front of an

audience. It includes music, dance, theater, and other forms of live performance. (ex:
THE PETA 2017)

 LITERARY ART – refers to written works of creativity such as poetry, fiction, and non-
fictions.

2
 - It is an art form where language is used to tell stories, describe experiences, or express
emotion.
- Ex: She walks in Beauty

 MEDIA ART – is any form of art that is created using digital technology. It includes
video art, net art, and other forms of new media.

 DECORATIVE ART – focuses on functional objects that are also aesthetically

pleasing.

- It includes items such as ceramics, textiles, and furniture, blending utility with beauty.
- Ex: Ming Dynasty Porcelain

 ARCHITECTURE – This includes the design of buildings and other structure. (Eiffel
Tower)

 CONCEPTUAL ART – places emphasis on the ideas or concepts behind the artwork
rather than the final product’s aesthetic or material form.

- The meaning of the work is often more important than its visual or physical appearance.
- Ex: Fountain

ESSENCE OF ART

- Universal way for people to convey themselves

- Important medium for connecting with others
- Ability to evoke emotions and to communicate ideas and messages
- Can inspire us, provoke us, and move us emotionally
- Can assist you in comprehending how you feel

3
FAMOUS PHILOSOPHER’S PERSPECTIVE ABOUT ESSENCE OF ART

1. DAISAKU IKEDA – The life and essence of art – whether it be painting, music, or
dance – lies in expressing through a wellspring of emotion the universal realm of the
spirit.
- It is a melding of the individual and the universal. That is why great art reaches out
beyond ethnic and national barriers to move people all over the world.

2. PLATO – Art is an imitation of reality and thus, is an illusion.

- He believed that art appeals to the emotions and senses, can distract people from the
truth.
- Plato saw art as a threat to morality, and therefore, advocated for censorship of art.

3. ARISTOTLE – Art is a catharsis or purification of emotions.

- He believed that art helps people to express and release their emotions in a healthy way.
- Aristotle saw art as a form of mimesis or imitation, but he believed that it could provide
insight into reality and enhance our understanding of the world.

4. IMMANUEL KANT
 ART AS DISINTERESTED PLEASURE
- Art has no practical use.
- Art is appreciated for its own sake, not for personal gain.

 UNIVERSAL VALUE OF ART

- Art transcends cultural and historical boundaries.
- It evokes a shared sense of beauty and aesthetics.

5. FRIEDEIRCH NIETZSCHE
 ART AS A FUNDAMENTAL ASPECT OF LIFE
- Art plays a crucial role in human existence.
- It helps us rise above the ordinary, offering access to a higher reality.
 ART’S POWER TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES
- Art has a life-affirming quality.
- It empowers us to face the difficulties of life with renewed vigor.

4
6. MARTIN HEIDEGGER
 ART REVEALS DEEPER TRUTH
- Art unveils the true essence of Being.
- It exposes the hidden meanings of existence. TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF ART
- Art helps us understand the world and ourselves on a deeper level.
- It reshapes our perception of reality.

5
LESSON 2: KINDS OF ARTS

DIFFERENT TYPES OF VISUAL ARTS

1. DRAWING – is one of the most recognized forms of visual art.

- Created by an artist using instruments to create lines on paper or another two-
dimensional surface.
- Common drawing instruments include pencils, chalk, charcoal, pen and ink, colored
pencils, crayons, pastels, inked brushes, erasers, markers, styluses, and even
metals.
- Ex: - Lip by Jonny Shaw (Pencil Drawing)
- - View of Arles by Vincent Van Gogh (Pen and Ink)

2. PAINTING – is a two-dimensional visual language that expresses thoughts and feelings

and achieves specific aesthetic characteristics.
- Shapes, lines, colors, tones, and textures are arranged in various ways to create
feelings of volume, space, movement, and light.

- Different mediums and forms are chosen based on their expressive potential and
constraints The artist's personal approach, combined with the medium and form, create
a distinctive visual image.

- Ex: - The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli

-Les Demoiselles by Pablo Picasso

3. ARCHITECTURE – is a creative process of designing, planning, and constructing

aesthetically pleasing and functional buildings and structure.

- It is considered a form of visual art that is closely related to the art world, with many
buildings recognized as cultural symbols and works of art.
Ex: -Traditional Chinese Roof Tiles & Acroteria
-La Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi

4. SCULPTURE – is a three-dimensional form of art created using materials such as

stone, wood, metal, and more It has been around for thousands of years and can be
used for decoration, emotional expression, storytelling, and more Sculptors.

6
 - Sculptors shape materials by removing or adding them using tools, gravity, or
mechanical devices Human shapes are often incorporated into sculptures, and they can
be found in public venues.
Ex: David by Michael Angelo (1501-1504)
-Bust of Nefertiti (1345 BC)

5. PRINTMAKING – transfers pictures from a matrix to a different surface, frequently

paper or fabric, using techniques such as woodcut, etching, engraving, and lithography.

- Screen printing is a more modern technique that has been added to the list The design
is created by manipulating the matrix's flat surface with tools or chemicals, and then the
matrix is inked to transfer the design.
Ex: Public Fiction by Bansky & Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol

6. FILMAKING – combines visual components to tell a story or send a message, using

techniques such as framing, lighting, camera movement, composition, and color.

- It involves collaboration with other artists, including actors, set designers, costume
designers, and composers.
Ex: - Pieta(2000) by White Cube & Fire Woman by Bill Viola

7. PHOTOGRAPHY – is a versatile visual art form that involves capturing images using a
camera, traditional film, or digital technology. Photographers use various techniques to
manipulate light, composition, and other elements to create images that convey emotion
or capture a moment in time.

- They use different tools and equipment to achieve the desired effect, and photography
can take many forms, including portraiture, landscape, and street.
Ex: V-J Day in Times Square by Alfred Eisenstaedt (1945)
-Death at the Gate of Paradise by Javier Bauluz (2000)

8. DIGITAL ART – is a visual art created using digital technology, such as computers and
software programs.
- It can takes many forms such as pixel art, 3D modeling, and animation.
Ex: Mausoleum by Valentin Pavageau (2020)

7
Representational Or Objective Art

- They are those arts which depict (represent) objects that are commonly
recognized by most people They attempt to copy, even if in a subjective manner,
something that's real.
- It uses “form” and is concerned with “what” is to be depicted in the artwork

QUALITIES OF REPRESENTATIONAL ART

- Representation art encompasses a broad range of interpretations and is not

limited to just one meaning
The qualities of representational art include:

o The representation of any event or object from reality.

o The use of varying levels of abstraction, from almost no abstraction to complete
abstraction.
o The correlation to perception, as it depicts one’s understanding and perception of
the subject.

TYPES OF REPRESENTATIONAL ARTS

1. REALISM – is art accurately depicts subjects found in nature or ordinary life,

including notable figures or historical events, rural life, and working-class
individuals.

- This style of art emerged after the French Revolution and allowed artists to express
appreciation for everyday people.

Ex: The Weeders (1868) by Jules Breton

2. IMPRESSIONISM – is an art movement that accurately depicts visual impressions of

light and movement, popularized in the 19th century.

8
 - It uses thin brushstrokes and angles to portray ordinary subjects and changed the scope
of realistic portrayal.

Ex: Water Lilies (1907) by Claud Monet

3. IDEALISM – is an art aims to portray beauty and perfection using perfect proportions
and intricate details, reflecting the artist’s or society’s perception of beauty.

- It originated in ancient times and reemerged during the neoclassical period in

Europe.
Ex: The Vitruvian Man (1487) by Leonardo Da Vinci

4. STYLIZATION – simplifies and decoratively represents subjects using basic shapes

and lines.

- It has been used in art since the earliest examples of painting, such as cave paintings
that depict men and scenes.
Ex: The Starry Night (1889) by Vincent Van Gogh

IMPORTANCE OF REPRESENTATIONAL ARTS

1. Representational Art serves as a Guideline for Artistic Merit

- One of the major roles that representational paintings and other artworks play is that it
sets a standard for evaluating the artistic excellence of an art piece.

2. Representational Art serves as a Starting Point for Artworks

- Portraits landscapes, scenes, and other life situations serve as a starting point and
- inspiration for an artist whose goal is to replicate a real subject.

3. Representational Arts is Easily Accessible

- Representational art is a genre that never grows old and has remained in vogue
throughout the history of art.

9
NON-REPRESENTATIONAL ART

- Is often used as another way to refer to abstract art, but there is a distinct difference
between the two.
- Fundamentally, nonrepresentational art is work that does not represent or depict a
being, place, or thing. It does not begin with a “thing” or subject from which a distinctive
abstract view is formed.
- Instead, it is “nothing” but what the artist intended it to be and what the viewer interpret it
as.

Ex: Dutch Painter Piet Mondrian (1872 - 1944) – Mondrian labeled his work as “Neoplasticism”
-Tableau I
-Composition II

IMPORTANCE OF NONREPRESENTATIONAL ART

- is art that is devoid of any reference to the natural world It has no subject, and meaning
is only derived from the artist’s intent and viewer’s interpretation.

- Nonrepresentational art opens a whole new approach to art, where meaning becomes
subjective. The artwork’s meaning is derived from the way we interpret it.

- Lines, shapes, and patterns that appear to be random do not satisfy the untrained eye
Still, nonrepresentational art is essential for our greater understanding of and
appreciation for the overarching concept of art itself.

10
LESSON 3: METHODS OF PRESENTING THE SUBJECT

Different methods of presenting the art subject can be utilized by artists to find the most effective
way to convey the message of their masterpiece. Each method offers a unique and distinctive
technique to construct the art piece.

METHODS

1. REALISM – is a style of painting that emphasizes accuracy, precision, and simplicity,

focusing on the outer appearances of subjects, inspired by intellectual breakthrough in
the early 19th century.
Ex: The Gleaners by Jean Francois Millet
-A Burial at Ornans by Gustave Courbet
-The Stone Breakers by Jean Francois Millet

2. ABSTRACTIONISM – is a style that emphasizes shapes, color, patterns, and

gestural markings over visual reality, often representing order, purity, simplicity,
and spirituality.

- It is often associated with moral dimensions and can be created using various
methods.

 DISTORTION – is a technique that portrays a subject in a distorted form.

- Distortion art exaggerates characteristics, manipulates colors, and changes the

configurations of a typical image in such a way that viewers derive a new meaning,
intention, and feeling from topics that are otherwise familiar to the eye.
Ex: The Weeping Woman by Pablo Picasso
-The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso
-The Visitation by El Greco

11
  MANGLING – Is a method that displays the subject as parts which have been cut,
lacerated, mangled, or hacked repeatedly.

- Mangling is an unusual abstract style since it shows the subject in an unpleasant way,
particularly when the artwork includes live elements.
Ex: Guernica by Pablo Picasso
-Head VI by Francis Bacon

 ELONGATION – is an art form in which a subject is portrayed in a prolonged or

expanded manner.

- This painting technique entails constructing stretched and far longer works than reality.
Ex: Long Neck by Parmigianino
-Portrait of Jeanne Hebuterne by Amadeo Modigliani
-Saint John the Baptist by El Greco

 CUBISM – portrays the subject through the use of cubes and other Geometric
figures. This strategy seeks to present multiple perspective at the same time and in
the same space.
Ex: Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso
-Violin and Candlestick by Georges Braque
-Man with a Guitar by Juan Gris

 ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM – use vibrant colors, irregular brush strokes,

and rough texture to convey the subject.

- This style applies paint swiftly and forcefully on large canvases in an attempt to portray
the artist’s feelings and emotions through their artwork.
Ex: No.5 by Jackson Pollock
-Woman I by Willem de Kooning
-Elegy to the Spanish Republic No.110 by Robert Motherwell

12
 3. SURREALISM – meaning “beyond realism”, is a philosophical and creative approach
that encourages viewers to explore their illogical, lyrical, and radical sides.

- This strategy seeks to transform human experience by combining the rational world with
the realm of dreams and imaginations.
Ex: The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí
-The Lovers by René Magritte
-The Elephants by Salvador Dalí

4. SYMBOLISM – is a method that encourages expression of an idea versus an accurate

description of the natural world.

- It tries to express absolute truths through the artist’s works, mostly as a reaction towards
real-world concerns. It signifies the subjects using a device or motif to produce
underlying meanings.
Ex: The Scream by Edvard Munch
-The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau
-The Death of the Grave Digger by Carlos Schwabe

5. FAUVISM – also known as “optimistic realism”

- Is a painting style that uses vibrant colors and bold brushwork to evoke feelings of
comfort, joy, and enjoyment.
- This method uses complementary colors to create a piece that is more visually
appealing and bright.
Ex: Woman with a Hat by Henri Matisse
-The Joy of Life by Henri Matisse
-The Green Stripe by Henri Matisse

6. DADAISM – also known as shocking realism.

- Is an artistic technique that displays the work as a negative reaction to the horrors and
follies of the actual world.
- Dada artists' works frequently use satire to confront social injustices.
Ex: Fountain by Marcel Duchamp
-Cut with the Dada Kitchen Knife by Hannah Höch

13
-L.H.O.O.Q. by M a r c e l D u c h a m p

7. EXPRESSIONISM – is the approach of presenting the image of reality in an

expressive manner that reflects the artist’s sentiments or views.
- It seeks to present the world from a subjective perspective, incorporating emotional
influences into art to evoke moods or thoughts.
Ex: The Blue Rider by Wassily Kandinsky
-The Dance of Life by Edvard Munch
-Street and Dresden by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

8. IMPRESSIONISM – is the method of presenting real-life subjects putting emphasis

on the artist’s impression of the scene’s everyday life.

- Impressionists want to capture the moment and temporary effects of sunshine by

working swiftly in front of subjects, in the open outdoors rather than in a studio. This
strategy increases awareness of light and color, as well as the natural scene's shifting
rhythm.
Ex: Sunrise by Clause Monet
-Ballet Rehearsal by Edgar Degas
Woman with a Parasol by Claud Monet

9. FUTURISM – is a technique of presenting subjects that are related to the future.

- Futurist artworks incorporate aspects of neo-impressionism and cubism to create

composition that convey the vibrance and energy of modern life.

- This genre of art is concerned with the technological advancements of the modern
machine era, specifically speed, technology, and change.

Ex: Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni

-The City Rises by Umberto Boccioni
-Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash by Giacomo Balla

14
SOURCES OF ART

1. NATURE – The beauty of landscapes, animals, and seasons inspires many artists in
painting, sculpture, and more.

2. CULTURE AND HISTORY – Cultural traditions and historical events inspire art that
reflects society, such as folk or religious works.

3. EMOTIONS AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE – Artists often express personal

feelings, memories, or life experience through their work.

4. RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY – Religious beliefs and spiritual themes are central
to much iconic art, including cathedrals and religious paintings.

5. MYTHOLOGY AND LITERATURE – Myths, legends, and literature fuel imaginative

artistic depictions of characters and themes.

6. SOCIETY AND POLITICS – Art can reflect or critique social norms, politics, and
current events, from protest art to political cartoons.

7. HUMAN FORM – The human body has long inspired art, seen in portraits,
anatomical studies, and sculptures.

8. TECHNOLOGY – Digital tools, AI, and virtual reality are emerging as new sources
of inspiration and artistic creation.

9. ART MOVEMENTS AND SCHOOLS – Artists often draw on past movements like the
Renaissance or Modernism for inspiration or reaction.

10. EVERYDAY LIFE – Ordinary life, from routines to consumer goods, is frequently
elevated as a subject in art, such as in Pop Art.

15
KINDS OF ART

1. PAINTING – Out of all the art genres, paintings are the most common and well-
known.

- It's an art form that practically anyone can access. However, a great artist must also
possess a great deal of skill, perseverance, and inventiveness. In this kind of art, artists
produce works of art on canvases, paper, or other surfaces using paint.
- But depending on the kind of paint you use, there are a lot of different painting
techniques. Oil, acrylic, and watercolor paints are available for selection. Great
painters like Picasso, Monet, Kahlo, and Van Gogh are well-known.
Ex: Vincent Van Gogh, The Starry Night, 1889

2. SCULPTURE – An ancient art form, sculpture begins back approximately the time of
the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. However, there is also proof of sculptures from far
earlier in time. Sculptures are 3D visual artworks, as opposed to paintings.

- Stone, clay, wood, or metal are among the materials that are chipped and shaped to
create them. Public places such as cathedrals, churches, and government buildings
frequently have sculptures on display.
Ex: Michelangelo Buonarroti’s La Pietà 1 4 9 8 - 9 9

3. ARCHITECTURE – Buildings have existed for as long as architecture has. It's the
science and art of designing structures that are both aesthetically pleasing and useful.
- A few such are the Paris, France-based wrought-iron lattice structure known as The
Eiffel Tower. Italy's Pantheon in Rome. The Indian Taj Mahal.

4. LITERATURE – Words themselves can be beautiful when composed with skill and
talent. Literature includes many sub-forms, such as poetry, essays, novels, short
stories, and non-fiction.
Ex: Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment

16
 5. MUSIC – There is proof that humans have been making music for as long as recorded
history. The earliest known instruments are thousands of years old.
- Furthermore, singing is a part of practically every culture on the planet. In some way,
almost everyone is drawn to music.
Ex:
-Dufay’s Nuperrosarumflores ( 1 4 3 6 )
-Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos ( 1 7 2 1 )

6. THEATER – Theater predates cinema and differs from it as it involves performers.

- There have been performance arts like these for ages or possibly millennia. Theater
performances in ancient China, Greece, Rome, and Egypt are well documented.
- Humans are naturally drawn to entertainment and stories. Both elements are used in
theater to create a shared experience that we can all enjoy.
- Theater comes in a variety of formats, including puppet shows, dance performances,
plays, and circuses. Dramas and comedies, as well as everything in between, can be
found in plays.
Ex: Macbeth

7. CINEMA – The newest art form on this list is cinema, which is comparable to theater
but also different from it.

- The invention of the first movie camera in the 1880s was the motivation for the
development of cinema. The early 1900s, however, saw a further mainstreaming of
cinema. The first color movies weren’t released until 1909.
- Additionally, at first, no sound was captured by the cameras, therefore all movies were
silent. Only in the latter part of the 1920s did "talkies" start to proliferate.
- Cinema is an artistic medium with a wealth of creative and technical possibilities. A
screenplay that will draw in the audience is the first thing you need. After that, you make
decisions about the special effects, clothes, casting, and filming procedure. Without a
question, the theater industry has served as a major source of inspiration.

Ex: Weine’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

17
LESSON 4: ART THEORIES

FORMALISM – This theory holds the most important aspect of art is its form, such as line,
color, shape, texture, and composition.

 ARTS PERIOD – Originating in the mid-19th century

 CHARACTERISTICS – Emphasizes the importance of an artworks form,
structure, and visual elements over its content or context.
 HISTORICAL EVENTS – Emerged in the late 19th century as a response to post-
impressionism and impressionism

CHIEF ARTIST

JACKSON POLLOCK – No. 5 1948 (c.1948)

MARK ROTHKO – Orange and Yellow (c.1956)
PAUL CEZANNE – The Gardener Villier (c.1906)
PIET MONDRIAN – Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow (c.1930)

1. REALISM – theory hold that art should aim to represent the world as it really is,
with an emphasis to the accuracy and fidelity to observable reality.
- Realist reject idealization and stylization in favor of more objective, factual
representation of the world.

 ARTS PERIOD – Realism (1848 – 1900)

 CHARACTERISTICS – Celebrating working class and peasants
- En plein air rustic painting
 HISTORICAL EVENTS – European
- Democratic Revolutions of 1848

18
CHIEF ARTIST
1. ALPHONSE LEGROS – Le Repas des Pauvres (c.1877)
2. HONORE DAUMIER – The Burden (The Laundress) (c.1853)
3. JEAN-FRACOIS MILLET – Woman Baking Bread (c.1854)
4. GUSTAVE COURBET – The Stone Breakers (c.1849)
5. JEAN-BAPTISTE-CAMILLE COROT – Ville-d’Avray (c.1865)

2. AESTHETICS – A branch of philosophy concerned with the study of beauty and taste.

AESTHETICIANS – believes that art is a form of sensory pleasure, and that its value
determined by the emotional and intellectual response it evokes in the viewer.

AESTHETIC JUDGEMENTS – are based on a range of factors, including our personal

tastes, cultural context, and knowledge of art history and theory.

3. POST MODERNISM THEORY

POST MODERN – Theory rejects the idea of objective truth or universal values, and
instead embraces subjectivity, relativism, and the idea that everything is a construct or a
representation.

POST MODERNISM – is a reaction against the ideas and values of modernism.

4. CONCEPTUALISM – The concept or ideas that inspired a piece of art is more

significant than the completed artwork and its aesthetic attributes.

- It originally emerged as an art movement in the 1960s, and the term usually refers to
art made from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s.

CONCEPTUAL ARTIST – used whichever materials and forms were most appropriate to get
their ideas across since it is mainly focus on “ideas and purposes” rather than the “works of
art” (painting, sculptures, and other valuable objects).

- This resulted in vastly different types of artworks that could look like almost anything –
from performance to writing to everyday objects.

19
 5. PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY – This is concerned with the way that art reflects and
expresses the unconscious desires and anxieties of the artist and the viewer.
- It suggests that the artwork can reveal the unconscious desires and conflicts of the artist.

PSYCHOANALYTIC CRITICISM – Approach to art interpretation

- Focuses on the symbolism and imagery used in the artwork and seeks to uncover
the hidden meaning behind them.

Ex:
-Dorethea Tanning - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (1943)
-Leonardo da Vinci – The Virgin and child with St. Anne (1503)
-Salvador Dali – Metamorphosis of Narcissus (1937)

6. FEMISNIST THEORY – This theory looks at how gender and power affect art.
- It points out that traditional art history has often overlooked or downplayed the role
of women and other marginalized groups.
Ex:
-Mary Schepisi – Beauty Interrupted (2011)

7. IMITATIONS OR MIMESIS THEORY – This theory says that art is a way of

copying the world around us.
- The goal of art is to imitate nature, and its value is based on how well it shows reality.

Ex:
-Caravaggio – Narcissus (1597 – 1599)
-Raphael – The School of Athens (c.1509 – 1511)
-Maurits Cornelis Escher – Hand with Reflecting Sphere (1935)

8. SEMIOTICS – Is the study of signs and symbols and their use in communication.
- In the context of art, semiotics examines the ways in which visual images are used to
convey meaning and how viewers interpret those meanings.
- In art, semiotics can be applied to the analysis of symbols and signs that are used in
works of art, such as shapes, colors, and images.

20
SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS – can reveal the cultural and historical significance of these
symbols and how they are used to communicate specific meanings.

9. EXPRESSION THEORY – This theory proposes that art is a means of expressing

the emotions, feelings, and inner experiences of the artist.
- According to this theory, the value of art lies in its ability to convey a personal or
emotional message to the viewer.

 FRENCH – In France, the main artists often associated with the expressionism were
Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and Henri Matisse.
- They used expressive colors and styles of brushwork to depict emotions and
experiences, moving away from realistic depictions of their subjects to how they felt and
perceived them.

Ex:
-Vincent Van Gogh – The Starry Night (1889)
-Henri Matisse – Le bonheur de vivre (1905 – 1906)

 GERMAN – In Germany, expressionism is particularly associated with the Bruke and

Der Blaue Reiter groups.

GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM ART – Took inspiration from mysticism, the Middle Ages,
primitive times and philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, whose ideas were immensely
popular and influential at the time.

Ex:
-Franz Marc – The Yellow Cow (1911)
-Karl Schmidt-Rottluff – Dr. Rosa Schapire (1919)

 AUSTRIAN – Austrian artist such as Oskar Kokoschka and Egon Schiele were
inspired by German Expressionism but interpreted the style in their individual and
personalized manners, never forming an official association like the Germans.
Ex:
- Oskar Kokoschka – Nude with Back Turned (1907) & Standing Male Nude with Arm Raised,
Back View (1910)

 NORWEGIAN – The Norwegian artist Edvard Munch was a key forerunner of the
Expressionism movement.
- Closely associated with symbolism and symbolist painting, he is best known for his
images of anxiety, isolation, rejection, sensuality, and death, many of which
reflected his neurotic and tragic life.

Ex:
-Edvard Munch – The Kiss (1897)

21
-Edvard Munch – The Scream (1893)

22