This online journal entry exists to pull notes I have taken on this topic during different art history and fine art courses I have taken, and also references different online sources that discuss this topic.
FORM + CONTENT + CONTEXT are interconnected elements that contribute to the overall meaning and interpretation of a work of art.
UNDERSTANDING these elements can help individuals to appreciate art more fully.
FORM…
Dr Dorothy Barenscott, referencing Dr Robert Belton, in her 2010 blog post titled “FOCUS ON RESEARCH| THE ELEMENTS OF ART: FORM, CONTENT, AND CONTEXT” notes that FORM represents ‘HOW’ the work is.
In short, FORM asks the questions >
What can you say about an artwork in regards to the elements of art (line, shape, form, space, texture, color, and value) or the principles of design (balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity/variety)?
How can we analyze the visual qualities of the artwork?
The Elements of Art
ARTIFACT 01 > Lee, Steven H. “The Formal Elements of Art.”
The Principles of Design
ARTIFACT 02 > Lee, Steven H. “The Principles of Design” with information from the DOMS Art League’s article, “The 7 Principles of Art & Design.”
The PHYSICAL ASPECTS of an artwork references the medium used (paint, sculpture, etc.), as well as elements such as colour, texture, and the way the elements of design (line, shape, space, etc.) are arranged.
COMPOSITION refers to how the elements of art are arranged to reflect how the principles of design in a work relate to each other, and serve to create a sense of balance, rhythm, and visual interest.
Both Dr. Barenscott and Dr. Belton also discuss the division of formal elements into PRIMARY and SECONDARY features, defined as follows:
Formal elements include PRIMARY features which are not a matter of semantic significance; and
SECONDARY features focus on considering how things are arranged in the composition of the artwork. That is, they are the relation of the PRIMARY features with one another (balance, composition, contrast, dominance, harmony, movement, proportion, proximity, similarity, unity, and variety,.
Formal elements are the WORKING PARTS of a piece.
Dr. Barenscott reminds her readers that form DOES NOT consider the actual ‘story’ of what is being shown. This is a concern of an examination of a work’s CONTENT, which is separate and independent of FORM when analyzing any artwork in the manner outlined here.
In the cinema, as well as when considering film and video art,
Function…
Some works of art carry a functional aspect to them (ceramics pieces, for example). Some modern and contemporary works also have interactive elements that provide a functional aspect to how individuals might interact with a piece. Some questions to consider when examining whether or not an artwork has a function and how that function is tied to a piece’s formal aspects are as follows:
Why was this artwork made?
What was this artwork created for?
What was the artwork used for?
What is the functional purpose of this artwork? How did the original audience use this?
Process…
PROCESS relates to the methods, techniques and style an artist chooses when creating a work of art.
STYLE refers to the distinctive features of the artwork that reflect the artist's personal vision, the historical period, or cultural influences.
The elements of art can also reference mark making in an artwork, as well as materiality.
Regina De Con Cossío, in her article The Materiality of Art explains how in art, materiality refers to the physical substances used by artists to create their works, and the way these materials impact the artwork's meaning and expression. It encompasses the choice of materials like paint, canvas, clay, metal, and fabric, and how they contribute to the overall aesthetic and conceptual message. Materiality is not just about the physical properties of the materials, but also how they interact with the artist's process and the viewer's experience.
The Tate Modern in the UK has a great PDF online where they provide advice on WAYS OF LOOKING, which includes a breakdown of questions to consider when looking at artworks, as seen in ARTIFACT 03 below…
ARTIFACT 03 > Tate Modern. “Ways of Looking: Looking at the Object - what can I see?”
CONTENT…
Dr Barenscott describes CONTENT as representative of ‘WHAT’ the work is about.
CONTEXT…
Finally, Dr Barenscott describes CONTEXT as being representative of ‘IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES’ the work is (and was) produced.
In writing,
ARTIFACT 03> Lee, Steven H. “69 Arhats… (3/5).” Flickr, 02 Feb 2018.
MOOD…
The Tate Modern in the UK has a great PDF online where they provide advice on WAYS OF LOOKING, starting with a personal approach focussed on what a viewer brings to the table when examining works of art…
ARTIFACT xx> Tate Modern. “Ways of Looking: A Personal Approach - what do I bring?”
I found some art history teachers online encouraging their students and viewers of art to consider how a work of art impacts them in terms of mood - on an emotional level. In short, this is about looking at the communication of mood and feelings. This can be done by considering some of the following ideas and questions:
Does the artwork affect you, the viewer, in any way? How does the work make you feel?
Why do you feel like this?
Is your mood simply one of the moment or has the artwork in question directly affected you?
Does it capture a mood, feeling, or emotion which you have already experienced?
How do the formal elements (colour, texture, shape, etc) in the artwork affect your mood?
How does the content and theme of the work affect your mood?
Does it convey feelings about life and nature?
Can you imagine what the artist’s feelings might have been like while producing the work?
Is the work…
…reflective, thoughtful, or contemplative…
…quiet, or noisy…
…soothing, or disturbing…
…happy, elated, celebratory, or sad…
…relaxed, peaceful, hopeful, or jarring…
…in the mood which it conveys and the feelings it arouses?