The success of a work of art is often judged by the numbers of
layers of meaning which allows us to give a variety of
interpretations to the work. Certainly, when a person views a work
of art a dialogue begins between the viewer and the work of art and
the layers of meaning are revealed, at least, revealed to the
enquiring mind. - test
As Janson suggests, one should avoid using the cliched
expression "I don't know anything about art but I know what I
like". What the person is really saying is not "I know what I like"
but "I like what I know". As with many things in life, your
enjoyment of art is closely tied in with your knowledge of
it. Once you are aware of the tools of knowledge we use in
Art History, then you can use these tools to interpret, have a
dialogue with, an unfamiliar work of art.
The basic tools with which we will work when considering a work
of art include such things as form, line, colour, composition,
light, iconography, iconology, historical and social setting.
These tools will help us interpret the "language" of the
painting.
Taking a painting to bits, if you like, and considering it under
different headings, considering different aspects of the work, does
not, as some would say, destroy or take away from the
enchantment of the view. Rather, it will give an added depth to
your appreciation.
It is similar to the study of a poem. Taking a poem apart,
studying it under headings such as rhyme, rhythm, symbolism,
alliteration, etc, is like taking a watch to bits, seeing how all
the small pieces fit together to form the complete watch. By
understanding more of its workings you are in a position to fully
appreciate the beauty of the object as a whole.
What you are doing is taking to bits the watch, the painting, or
the poem, looking at each bit separately and then putting all the
bits back together, but putting them back with an enlightened view
on how the bits all fit together to form something aesthetically
pleasing and/or with a philosophical, political or spiritual
message.
Some bits may even be concealed from direct view such as the
under-painting say of the Impressionists. But once you know
the type of under-painting used you can then appreciate surface
light and colour in a much more intelligent and enlightened
way.
This brings in the term style which in art historical terms
means the distinguishing features of the line, the form, the colour
, the tone, which help us see the style of a particular artist or
period. It is the style of a particular work which enables
art historians to determine, by comparison and analysis, the period
to which a work belongs. It is this that will help us
differentiate the Egyptian style from the Roman or Greek
style. We then can break the analysis down further into, say,
provincial characteristics and schools such as the Florentine
School or the Venetian School.
Then again it will be broken down into individual artists within
the period and then sub-divided again into different periods of the
artist's own development. We talk, for example, of Picasso's
Blue Period, and so on.
After studying art history, you should be at least asking
yourself, even if not answering, the following questions about a
work of art (never underestimate the importance of asking the right
questions!): What is the content? What is the work
about? What is the subject-matter? Is the composition
conveyed to us largely by line, or by tone? How does the
artist form volume? Can we, by looking at the style of the
work, estimate an approximate date of composition? Can we see
any influences from previous periods? If the work is abstract, can
we see where the artist has drawn his inspiration? Could it
be the play of light on the sand, on leaves? Or could he have
taken his inspiration from examples of primitive art?
Art history opens your eyes to the world with which you are
surrounded. You will be more aware of the landscape in New
Zealand, the changing light, juxtaposition of colours and times of
the day. You will be more able to "read the landscape" of a
face or body. You will also be better equipped to take on
garden architecture, interior design or, of course, painting and
sculpture. You will see life and passion in architectural and
artistic masterpieces and use this passion and expression of others
to enhance your knowledge 0f the past and your appreciation of the
present.