Art Appreciation- Midterm Exam Study
Guide||Latest Update
Aesthetic -CORRECT ANSWER Our sense of what is beautiful.
Subject matter -CORRECT ANSWER The literal, visible image in a work of art.
Content -CORRECT ANSWER The meaning of an image, beyond its overt subject
matter; as opposed to form.
Representational art -CORRECT ANSWER Any work of art that that seeks to resemble
the world of natural appearance.
Abstract art -CORRECT ANSWER The rendering of images and objects in a stylized or
simplified way, so that through they remain recognizeable, their formal/expressive
aspects are emphasized.
Realism -CORRECT ANSWER The tendency to render the facts of existence.
Naturalism -CORRECT ANSWER A brand of representation in which the artist retains
apparently realistic elements but presents the visual world from a distinctly personal or
subjective p.o.v.
Photorealistic -CORRECT ANSWER A drawing/painting so realistic in appearance that
it appears to be a photo.
Nonobjective art -CORRECT ANSWER Art that makes no reference to the natural
worldz also referred to as nonrepresentational art.
Form -CORRECT ANSWER Literal shape/mass of an object or figure.
Composition -CORRECT ANSWER The organization of the formal elements in a work
of art.
Iconography -CORRECT ANSWER The study or description of images and symbols.
Symbols -CORRECT ANSWER Images that represent something more than their literal
meaning.
Line -CORRECT ANSWER A mark left by a moving point, actual or implied, and varying
in direction, thickness, and density.
, Outline -CORRECT ANSWER The edge of a shape or figure depicted by an actual line
drawn or painted on the surface.
Contour line -CORRECT ANSWER The perceived lines that mark the border of an
object in space.
Implied line -CORRECT ANSWER A line created by movement or direction.
•line established by a pointing finger.
•direction of a glance.
•body moving through space.
Shape -CORRECT ANSWER A two dimensional area, the boundaries of which are
measured in terms of height and width. More broadly, the form of any object or figure.
Figure-ground relation -CORRECT ANSWER The relationship between a work of art
and the surface upon which the work is made.
Positive shape -CORRECT ANSWER The figure in a figure-ground relation.
Negative shape or space -CORRECT ANSWER Empty space, surrounded and shaped
so that it requires a sense of form or volume.
Mass -CORRECT ANSWER Any solid that occupies a three dimensional volume.
Perspective -CORRECT ANSWER A system for portraying the visual impression of
three-dimensional space and objects in it on a two dimensional surface.
Linear perspective -CORRECT ANSWER Based on the observation that parallel lines
appear to converge as they recede from the viewer, finally meeting at a vanishing point
on the horizon. Relies on a fixed viewpoint.
One-point linear perspective -CORRECT ANSWER A version of linear perspective in
which there is only one vanishing point in the composition.
Two-point linear perspective -CORRECT ANSWER A version of linear perspective in
which there are two or more vanishing points in the composition.
Foreshortening -CORRECT ANSWER The visual phenomenon whereby an elongated
object projecting toward or away from a viewer appears shorter than its actual length, as
though compressed.
Atmospheric perspective -CORRECT ANSWER Based on the observation that distant
objects appear less distinct, paler, and blue are the nearby objects due to the way
moisture in the intervening atmosphere scatters light.
Value -CORRECT ANSWER The relative lightness or darkness of a color.
Guide||Latest Update
Aesthetic -CORRECT ANSWER Our sense of what is beautiful.
Subject matter -CORRECT ANSWER The literal, visible image in a work of art.
Content -CORRECT ANSWER The meaning of an image, beyond its overt subject
matter; as opposed to form.
Representational art -CORRECT ANSWER Any work of art that that seeks to resemble
the world of natural appearance.
Abstract art -CORRECT ANSWER The rendering of images and objects in a stylized or
simplified way, so that through they remain recognizeable, their formal/expressive
aspects are emphasized.
Realism -CORRECT ANSWER The tendency to render the facts of existence.
Naturalism -CORRECT ANSWER A brand of representation in which the artist retains
apparently realistic elements but presents the visual world from a distinctly personal or
subjective p.o.v.
Photorealistic -CORRECT ANSWER A drawing/painting so realistic in appearance that
it appears to be a photo.
Nonobjective art -CORRECT ANSWER Art that makes no reference to the natural
worldz also referred to as nonrepresentational art.
Form -CORRECT ANSWER Literal shape/mass of an object or figure.
Composition -CORRECT ANSWER The organization of the formal elements in a work
of art.
Iconography -CORRECT ANSWER The study or description of images and symbols.
Symbols -CORRECT ANSWER Images that represent something more than their literal
meaning.
Line -CORRECT ANSWER A mark left by a moving point, actual or implied, and varying
in direction, thickness, and density.
, Outline -CORRECT ANSWER The edge of a shape or figure depicted by an actual line
drawn or painted on the surface.
Contour line -CORRECT ANSWER The perceived lines that mark the border of an
object in space.
Implied line -CORRECT ANSWER A line created by movement or direction.
•line established by a pointing finger.
•direction of a glance.
•body moving through space.
Shape -CORRECT ANSWER A two dimensional area, the boundaries of which are
measured in terms of height and width. More broadly, the form of any object or figure.
Figure-ground relation -CORRECT ANSWER The relationship between a work of art
and the surface upon which the work is made.
Positive shape -CORRECT ANSWER The figure in a figure-ground relation.
Negative shape or space -CORRECT ANSWER Empty space, surrounded and shaped
so that it requires a sense of form or volume.
Mass -CORRECT ANSWER Any solid that occupies a three dimensional volume.
Perspective -CORRECT ANSWER A system for portraying the visual impression of
three-dimensional space and objects in it on a two dimensional surface.
Linear perspective -CORRECT ANSWER Based on the observation that parallel lines
appear to converge as they recede from the viewer, finally meeting at a vanishing point
on the horizon. Relies on a fixed viewpoint.
One-point linear perspective -CORRECT ANSWER A version of linear perspective in
which there is only one vanishing point in the composition.
Two-point linear perspective -CORRECT ANSWER A version of linear perspective in
which there are two or more vanishing points in the composition.
Foreshortening -CORRECT ANSWER The visual phenomenon whereby an elongated
object projecting toward or away from a viewer appears shorter than its actual length, as
though compressed.
Atmospheric perspective -CORRECT ANSWER Based on the observation that distant
objects appear less distinct, paler, and blue are the nearby objects due to the way
moisture in the intervening atmosphere scatters light.
Value -CORRECT ANSWER The relative lightness or darkness of a color.
