Art is a way of grasping the world, not just the physical world that science attempts to do but also the world of human activity and spiritual experience. It begins when someone, actuated by some feeling, with the object of making others share his feeling, expresses it by certain external indications. Whether these indications be “contagious” or not depends on the quality of the emotion expressed and the extent to which it is genuine.
The meaning of a work of art is found in the way the artist has arranged and presented the elements and images of the composition. A work’s arrangement of colors, for example, can convey the idea of harmony or disharmony. The shape and contour of lines can convey the sense of movement, as in a curved line that might seem to flow gently while jagged lines might feel harsher or wild. The use of different textures and lighting can create the sense of depth or space in a work.
In addition, the meaning of a work of art is conveyed through the subject matter that it represents. An artwork might reflect a particular person, event or period in history, or it might represent abstract concepts. It might have a message that is intended to inspire or instruct, or it might be meant to evoke an emotional response in the viewer.
The study of art, or the history of art, encompasses many different fields and focuses on works from all over the world and throughout history. It examines the conscious and unconscious choices made by an artist and how these decisions affect the final work’s form and content. In the process, it also looks at the way a work of art reflects and influences the culture that produced it.
Art historians are interested in the history of all forms of visual art, from ancient times to the present. They consider the purposes and functions of the arts, such as illustrative work, such as maps, and expressive or conceptual works, such as paintings, sculptures and photographs. They also examine the historical context of a work of art, such as the social or political events that occurred in the time it was created and how the piece was received at the time.
To help students understand the purposes and functions of art, it is helpful to provide them with some background information on the historical events and people that influenced the artists. This knowledge will allow them to identify the themes and messages of a work of art. It will also help them to understand why an artist chose to use a particular technique or to portray a specific subject in a certain way. In the end, if a student is able to explain the purpose of a work of art, then they have successfully assessed its meaning. This is an important skill for students to learn, as it will enable them to become more thoughtful and critically engaged when viewing future works of art.