VCS105

CHAPTER
4
STYLE : THEORY OF STYLE

Madam Nurkhazilah Idris

Visual Cultural Studies /
Liberal Studies Department,
CCA UiTM Cawangan Melaka
nurkhazilah@uitm.edu.my
UMMUL KITAB & DU’A
UMMUL KITAB & DU’A
LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to;

1. Can understand what is style in art context.

2. Can describe the important elements to define style in art.

3. Can explain the important elements in defining the style.

DEFINITION OF STYLE

1
DEFINITION STYLE BY MEYER SCHAPIRO :
1. Born: September 23, 1904, in Shavel/Šiauliai, Lithuania;
died: March 3, 1996 in New York City) was an American 20th
century art historian
2. According to Meyer Schapiro [1904 -1996], style refers to the
formal qualities and visual characteristics of a piece of
art. S
T
3. Schapiro demonstrated that style could be used not only as
an identifier of a particular period but also as a diagnostic
tool. Style is indicative of the artist and the culture at large.
http://www.reference.com/browse/Meyer_Schapiro
Y
L
2
Style can share its defining characteristics with other art in at least
three different ways:

E
1. During the same historical era or period of time. This is
called a period style.
2. In the same nation or geographical location. This is called
a national style.
3. By the same artist throughout his or her career. This is
called an artist's style.
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN PERIOD,
NATIONAL AND PERSONAL STYLE?

1
PERIOD STYLE : example :

S
Mesopotamia, Aegean, Classical Greek, Byzantine, Gothic,
Renaissance, Baroque, etc…

2
ART MOVEMENT STYLE : example :
Realism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Bauhaus, Avant Garde,
T
Y
Pop Art, Surrealism, Cubism, Dadaim, etc…

L
NATIONAL STYLE : example :
American Abstract Expressionism VS
Malaysian Abstract Expressionism.

4
PERSONAL STYLE : example :
E
[Renaissance Painters] Leonardo’s style VS. Raphael’s style
PROCESS OF UNDERSTANDING STYLE

Style refers to the visual appearance of an artwork which defined in

terms of shared/common characteristics which derived from the
following five aspects;

1 2 3 4 5

Arrangement of
Medium & Formal composition Subject &
Content
techniques elements (formal themes
principles)

In appreciating the FORM and CONTENT, you can study a certain selected
artwork, but in defining STYLE you will need more than an artwork to study,
in order to identified their SHARED/COMMON CHARACTERISTICS.
CLASSIFICATION OF ART PERIODS

The style
of
Ancient Arts
Prehistoric Art
Mesopotamian Art
Egyptian Art
Prehistoric Aegean Art
Etruscan Art
CLASSIFICATION OF ART PERIODS

The style of
Classical Arts
Greek Art
Roman Art
Medieval Art
Byzantine Art
Renaissance Art
Baroque Art
Rococo Art
CLASSIFICATION OF ART PERIODS

The style of
The Art Movements Of
th
The 19 Century
Neoclassicism
Romanticism
Realism
Impressionism
Post-impressionism
CLASSIFICATION OF ART PERIODS

The style of
The Art Movements Of
th
The 20 Century
Fauvism
Expressionism
Cubism
Futurism
Dadaism
Surrealism
Abstract Expressionism
Pop Art
CLASSIFICATION OF ART PERIODS

The style of
Post Modern &
Contemporary Art
Post Modern art: art from early to mid 20th century
Contemporary Art: late 20th century to current time (21st century).
PROCESS OF APPRECIATION

FORMALISTIC CONTENT

1 2 3
Description of Analyzing Interpretation
artwork the Form Of Content

Artist, Title, Elements of art. Subject/theme.

Medium, Year, Principles of design. Iconography.
Art period/movement

Identifying the a. Medium & techniques.

COMMON b. Formal elements.
CHARACTERISTICS c. Arrangement of composition.
to indicate the significant d. Subject & themes
style based on; e. content
PROCESS OF APPRECIATION
IS A METHOD TO STUDY OR DISCUSS ABOUT ART BASE ON ITS FORM & CONTENT

DESCRIBING
1

C
3
Artwork Description
You MUST describe the INTERPRETING
name of the (1)ARTIST,

O
You need to classify the
the (2)TITLE of the

F
SUBJECT/THEME
artwork, what kind of base on few classification;
(3)MEDIUM had been LANDSCAPE,

N
used and when this PORTRAIT
artwork has been
produced – the (4)YEAR O HISTORICAL, STILL
LIFE,

T
and (5)PERIOD or ART MYTHOLOGICAL,

R
MOVEMENT LITERARY, RELIGIOUS,
PERSONIFICATION, etc.

E
ANALYZING 2

M
INTERPRETING
The ELEMENTS (line, You need to identify and
shape, space, color, form, interprete every images

N
value, and texture) and or subject or SYMBOLS
the PRINCIPLES that contains meaning.
harmony, balance,

T
proportion, rhythm, ICONOGRAPHY means
movement, unity, IMAGE WRITING
perspective, pattern,
variety, repetation,
emphasis, contrast, etc
 Example Process of
Understanding Style
Through The Process Of
Art Appreciation

Artwork Description:
• Artist : Thomas Gainsborough.
• Title : Mr. and Mrs. Andrews.
• Medium: Oil on canvas. 1
• Year : 1970
• Period: Rococo
Analysis on formal element: Classification of subject:
2
1. Line : Curve, Parallel, Wavy Line. 1. Religious. 4
2. Colour : Soft pastel colour, soft light. 2. Still Life.
3. Form : Woman, Man, Trees, Sky, Dog. 3. Portrait.
4. Space : Landscape Perspective.
Interpretation of content:
Analysis on arrangement of 5
1. A young couple in the middle of the eighteenth
composition (formal principles): century.
1. Proposition : Balance and Harmony. 2. Leisure and luxurious of high society.
2. Balance : Artist arrange all subject in 3. Landscapes also were pastoral and often depicted
balance composition. 3 the leisurely outings of aristocratic couples.
3. Variety : Different shape, colour and line.
CONCLUSION

1
Style refers to the formal qualities and visual
characteristics of a piece of art.

2
Style could be used not only as an identifier of a particular
period but also as a diagnostic tool. Style is indicative of the
artist and the culture at large.

3
The important elements in DEFINE and DEFINING the style is
: Medium & Techniques, Formal Elements, Arrangement of
Composition, Subject & themes, Content.
REFERENCES

David A. Lauer, Pentak, S., 2007. Design Basics. Cengage Learning.

Downer, M, 2012. The Story of Design. Literary Licensing LLC.

Hughes, R, 1982. The Shock of the New. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Muliyadi Mahamood. 1995. Mendekati Seni Lukis dan Seni Reka. Kuala Lumpur: DPB

Stangos, N., ed., 1994. Concepts of Modern Art: From Fauvism to Post-Modernism. London:
Thames and Hudson.

Wahiza Abdul Wahid, 2010. Sejarah Seni Lukis dan Seni Reka: Satu Pengenalan. Bangi: PST
Enterprise.
 Activity Chapter 4
What you need to do are :

1. What are the main ELEMENTS to study in identifying

the style?

2. Based on the ELEMENTS, what is the important thing

to look into when studying the style?

3. Do you able to conduct simple appreciation now?

CLOSING DU’A
THANK YOU
For Your Attention
Madam Nurkhazilah Idris
Visual Cultural Studies /
Liberal Studies Department,
CCA UiTM Cawangan Melaka
nurkhazilah@uitm.edu.my