Aesthetic Qualities

All visual art can be defined by one of three aesthetic qualities. They are:

Imitationalism, Formalism or Emotionalism

Imitationalism

• If the purpose of the artist was primarily to copy reality, we would call it Realism or Imitationalism.

Wm. Harnett My Gems

•Value, or shading and accurate color and size of objects are all elements used in Imitationalism

Albrect Durer

Study of an Apostle’s Hands

Leonardo Da Vinci

Self Portrait

Formalism

When the artist is focusing more on the formal qualities of art – the elements and principles – then we call this Formalism.

• Formalism uses line, color, shape, space, and value, but not in a representational way

Vassily Kandinsky Composition X

Stuart Davis

Jackson Pollack

Jackson Pollack Lavender Mist

Emotionalism

• When the main motive of an artist is to convey an emotion or idea to the viewer, we call this type of art Expressionism, or Emtionalism

• Works showing Emotionalism may also be Imitational or Formal, but their more important emphasis is on a mood or feeling.

Pablo Picasso Gurenica

1937 11’ x 25.6’

Romare Bearden Fractured Tales

Mary Cassatt The Boating Party