U4.

PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
Iconicity is the similarity or analogy between the object and the
image of the object.
Depending on their DEGREE OF ICONICITY, images may be…

REALISTIC IMAGES FIGURATIVE IMAGES ABSTRACT IMAGES

 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
REALISTIC IMAGES
These images are very similar to the model.
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
FIGURATIVE IMAGES
These images have certain resemblance to the model.
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
ABSTRACT IMAGES
In these images it is imposible to recognize the real world.
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC. Is this a realistic, figurative or abstract image?
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC. Is this a realistic, figurative or abstract image?
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC. Is this a realistic, figurative or abstract image?
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC. Is this a realistic, figurative or abstract image?
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC. Is this a realistic, figurative or abstract image?
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC. Is this a realistic, figurative or abstract image?
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC. Draw two different pictures based on this image. One of them
must be figurative and the other one must be abstract.
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC. Look at the example. It shows how Picasso simplifies the drawing of the
bulls from first to the last, so he approaches abstraction.
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC. Here you have more useful examples.
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC. Here you have more useful examples.
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
5. Degrees of iconicity: Figurative and abstract images.
AC.
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
Now, we’ll learn an easy method to analyse images.
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
Follow these steps. Number 1: a) and b).
1. INTRODUCTION:
a) Genre:
The document is a painting / a cartoon / a comic strip / a poster /
an ad (advert, advertisement) / a mural / a drawing / a
photo(graph) / a black and white picture / a map / the cover of a
magazine / a website homepage / etc.

b)Title and author:

This painting is entitled …
It was drawn / painted / taken / sculpted / designed by…
It is an anonymous work.
U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
Number 2: a) and b).
2. DESCRIPTION:
a) General Impression:
It is a landscape / a portrait / a still life / an animal / a religious
scene / a historic picture…
We can see / notice …
The scene takes place in a city / suburb / in the countryside / inside
a house / outside …
The main characters are …
There is (are) a bicycle / a car / a building / some flowers…

b) Degree of iconicity:
The painting is very realistic / abstract / figurative…
U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
Number 3: a)…
3. THE COMPOSITION:
a) Location of elements:
The man in the In the top At the top In the top
foreground left-hand
In the distance
right-hand
corner corner
is reading
the newspaper. In the background
Use the
present continuous On the left In the middle On the right
(BE + V-ing)

In the foreground
There is a house
in the top In the bottom In the bottom
right-hand corner. left-hand right-hand
corner At the bottom corner
U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
Number 3:…b) and c).
3. THE COMPOSITION:
b) Colours:
There are many dark / light / bright colours...
There are many warm / cool colours…
We can notice the use of the pastel family colours…
We can see the use of the primary / secondary colours…

c) Other graphic elements:

There is a rough texture in the background.
We can see many geometric / graphic lines /curve lines…
The use of the light and shadows is very important in the picture.
There is a text wich says “Love”…
U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
Numbers 4 and 5.
4. INTERPRETATION:
The message , the signified of the image is…
We can imagine / suppose that…
We can deduce that…
What the picture means is…
5. PERSONAL OPINION:
I think this picture is quite/ a bit / very (+ ADJ) because …
What strikes / shocks / surprises me in this picture is that…
What I like (the most) is …
What I like most of all is…
It seems to me that …
In my opinion…
U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
USEFUL ADJECTIVES
shocking – funny – ironic – witty – original – stereotyped –
conformist – moving – boring – scary / frightening – provocative –
challenging – convincing – unconvincing – exaggerated – weird …

colourful – cheerful – pleasant – gloomy – stunning – ugly

Impresionist Pop Art

Cubist Expressionist
Classic Contemporary Styles
Old Surrealist
Modern Baroque
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
ACTIVITY:
Analyse these images.
1)

“Marilyn Naranja”
Andy Warhol
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
ACTIVITY:
Analyse these images.
2)

“JA AIKALAISET”
ELLEN THESLEFF
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
ACTIVITY:
Analyse these images.
3)

“Still-life”
Paul Cézanne
 U4. PERCEPTION OF IMAGES
6. Analysing images.
ACTIVITY:
Analyse these images.
4)

“Blue woman with guitar”

Tamara de Lempicka