Elements-Principles NW 10

Just as a carpenter has tools
to build a house, artists have

tools to build their paintings,
drawings, prints, sculpture,
decorative arts and
Elements & Principles of Art architectural designs.
Exploring the Visual Arts of

Non-Western Cultures
Airborne Angel with a Rosary,

1565, Unknown Artist,
Central Asia
San Diego Museum of Art
End End
2 Elements & Principles of Design Art 244
An artist may use some or all of When we do a formal analysis

these tools to communicate their of an artwork, we look for these
beliefs, values, thoughts and tools to help us see details and
feelings. ideas that we may have missed
the first time we viewed the
artwork.
Seated Buddha, 1350,

Unknown Artist, Thailand Equestrian Figure, 16th century,
The Walters Art Museum Unknown Artist, Nigeria, Africa
Detroit Institute of Arts
End End
3 Elements & Principles of Design Art 244 4 Elements & Principles of Design Art 244
Through formal analysis, we This presentation illustrates your

can more fully enjoy the lines, handout, “Formal Analysis of
colors, patterns and subject. Visual Art.” Please refer to it
We can also get a better as you explore these wonderful
understanding of the artist and artworks.
the culture in which the art was
created.
Woman’s Coat (Munisak), Fabric Panel, 20th century,

1850, Unknown Artist, Uzbekistan, Unknown Artist, Ghana, Africa
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Minneapolis Institute of Art
End End
1
Art teachers and historians The Elements of Design
have grouped the artist’s tools are the basic building
into categories. In this blocks of art:
presentation we will study: Line
Elements of Design Color
Principles of Design Shape
Elements of Content Texture
In another presentation, we Space
will explore the second half of
formal analysis:
Composition
Style
Horse from a Tomb Retinue, Unknown
Umar In Disguise, 1570, India Artist, 8th century, China
Unknown Mahesh Artist, Minneapolis Institute of Art
Freer & Sackler Galleries
End End
The Principles of Design The Elements of Content

describe how an artist are what the artwork is
combines the Elements: about:
Repetition Subject matter
Emphasis Intention of the artist
Balance Ideas in the work
Unity Symbols and symbolism
Contrast
The Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan, All The World, 1958, Nym Bandak,
1630-1653, India, National Gallery of Art, Australia
Great Buildings Online
End End
Let’s see how artists from

Artists combine the
many times and cultures have
elements and principles of
used the elements and
design and content to
principles of design and
communicate their ideas.
content.
We’ll look at the same
artworks a couple of times,
but we’ll focus on one tool
at a time. You’ll see how
artists combine tools to
create their artworks.
Small Bowl, 800 AD, Unknown Artist,

Huari Peoples, Peru
End End
2
All the artworks used in
First we will look at the Elements of Design:
this presentation are in
Elements of Design. Examples Line
the Gallery at the end of
from our gallery show us how Color
the lesson. They are
artists use each one.
arranged by their Shape
geographic area. Texture
Space
The Festival of Lanterns, 1827,

Katsushika Hokusai, Japan
Minneapolis Institute of Art
End End
Lines can be built up to

Lines show images such as the
jaguar head on the right and
Artists can use lines as the major the two condor birds on the
element of their artwork. The weaver left. Notice also how black
who created this Kente cloth used lines outline each religious
variations of lines both short and long symbol to make it stand out
parallel lines of many different colors. from the background.
They are placed both vertically and
horizontally. This took great skills
and would have been worn only by
royalty.
Huari Peoples, Peru
Fabric Panel, 20th century, Unknown Artist, Ghana,

Africa, Minneapolis Institute of Art
End End
Nym Bandak effectively used white outlines to highlight the trees, Hokusai used a variety of
flowers and river and also divide the heavens and the stars in this straight and curved lines as
diagram of the Aborigine universe. well as a black outlines to
make each of the festival
boats, lanterns and parade
participants clearly stand out
in his print. He wanted to
praise the Obon Festival, the
great Buddhist community
celebration for the dead.

Katsushika Hokusai, Japan
All The World, 1958, Nym Bandak, National Gallery of Art, Australia Minneapolis Institute of Art
End End
3
Color Colors can appear to us as
warm or cool. Warm colors
are red, yellow, and orange.
The primary colors are made When they are mixed, they
They seem to move forward,
from pure color, not mixed: create the secondary colors:
towards the viewer.
Red Green
Yellow Purple
Blue Orange
Woman’s Coat (Munisak),

1850, Unknown Artist, Uzbekistan,
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
End End
Cool colors are blue, green Artists often combine both warm
and purple. Cool colors seem and cool colors to create special
to move away from the viewer. effects. Here the red (warm)
angel’s wings rise above the blue
(cool) background. The artist
wanted to show that the angel is
above the pain and suffering of this
world.
Airborne Angel with a Rosary,

Blueberries, 1986, Jim Schoppert, United 1565, Unknown Artist, Central Asia
States, National Museum of the San Diego Museum of Art
American Indian
End End
To the right is a color chart. It Colors change in value as they are mixed with black or white. White
shows the different color values is added to make a tint, a lighter color. Notice the light pink, light blue
– from the pure color in the and tan (light brown).
center to tints (color mixed with
white) on the left and shades
(color mixed with black) on the
right.
Umar In Disguise, 1570, Unknown Mahesh Artist, India, Freer & Sackler Galleries
End End
4
Black is added to make a Saturation describes the
shade, a darker color. intensity of the colors. The
Notice all the different bright blue and gold on the
shades of dark blue in horse are highly saturated
this painting. colors. They make the horse
look rich and luxurious, a
status symbol for its owner.
Blueberries, 1986, Horse from a Tomb Retinue, Unknown

Jim Schoppert, United States, Artist, 8th century, China
National Museum of the Minneapolis Institute of Art
American Indian
End End
Less saturated colors are dull or

often shades or tints of a color. Shapes
The bronze of this Buddha has
aged to dull colors, varied There are two types of shapes:
unsaturated tints and shades of Geometric: those made
green. The simple colors reinforce with straight lines and
Buddha’s message that a simple angles, often mechanical.
life leads to enlightenment. Organic: those using the
curved lines of natural,
living objects.

Unknown Artist, Thailand
The Walters Art Museum
End End
Geometric shapes include Organic shapes follow the

squares, rectangles and circles. natural curves of living forms –
Their crisp, straight lines can people, plants, animals, water
show organization and order, the and land. They show movement
hand of man shaping the world, and growth, the rhythms of
taking control, bringing order to weather and time. They bring
chaos. realism to the human figure and
animals.
End End
5
This clay sculpture is covered
Texture with glazes which are made of
the same materials as colored
Texture is how the surface of a glass. If you could touch the
thing feels to our fingers – soft, horse, the real texture would
hard, slick. In sculpture you can feel smooth and slick, like glass.
actually feel the real texture.
The chief’s headdress has many
spikes that would feel rough to
our hands.
Equestrian Figure, 16th century,

Unknown Artist, Nigeria, Africa Horse from a Tomb Retinue, Unknown
Detroit Institute of Arts Artist, 8th century, China
End End
In paintings, there are implied Here the artist implies textures

textures. The surface of the in the rough brick walls of the
painting is smooth, but the artist fort, the smooth domes on top of
makes each surface look real – the towers, and the soft clothes
like the smoothness of swirling that hang in folds on the guards
clouds, the jagged feathers of the and workers. Do you see the
angel’s wing or her silky clothes snake with the slick skin?
and wispy hair.
Umar In Disguise, 1570, Unknown

Mahesh Artist, India
Airborne Angel with a Rosary, Freer & Sackler Galleries
1565, Unknown Artist, Central Asia
End End
Space A sculpture or building has a third

dimension:
A painting, print or Depth – the measurement from
drawing has two front to back.
dimensions: A person can walk around from the
Height – the front to the back and view all angles
measurement from of a sculpture or building.
top to bottom
Width – the
measurement from
side to side.
All The World, 1958, Nym Bandak,
National Gallery of Art, Australia
Bell (Bo Zhong), Unknown Artist, 12th

century BC, China
End End
6
Artists can show depth in a Many non-western cultures do
painting by using perspective. not use perspective - everything
The scene looks as if we can is the same size. Things at the
walk into it, we understand that top of the painting are meant to
the people are closer and the be farther away from the
small buildings across the river viewer. People in the culture
are farther away. understood this tradition.
The Festival of Lanterns, 1827, Umar In Disguise, 1570, Unknown

Katsushika Hokusai, Japan Mahesh Artist, India
Minneapolis Institute of Art Freer & Sackler Galleries
End End
Buildings also have: The main building of the Taj Mahal has both a lot of mass and it
Mass – the physical bulk of a surrounds a large volume of space.
solid body
Volume – the space enclosed
by the building.
The towers of the Taj Mahal have
a large amount of mass, but little
volume.
The Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan,

1630-1653, India
Great Buildings Online The Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan, 1630-1653, India, Great Buildings Online
End End
Principles of Design Repetition

Next we’ll look at the Principles of Design: Artists use repetition, repeating
Principles of Design. Repetition the same element, such as a shape
Examples from our gallery Emphasis or color in different parts of the
show us how artists used each artwork. The Shang Dynasty artist
one. Balance repeated the circles and wing
Unity shapes. The sacred dragon’s face
Contrast is repeated on both sides of the
bell.
Bell (Bo Zhong), Unknown Artist, 12th

century BC, China
End End
7
The artist from the ancient Incan Pattern is the repetition of the
Empire used repetition two same elements to create an overall
ways: design. The Native American
the shapes – condors, eyes Navaho artist created a pattern of
and stripes - are repeated. geometric shapes and bold colors
the colors – black, cream, to create the pattern on this
red and gold – are repeated. blanket. In many cultures, the
shapes in patterns are symbols or
refer to legends.
Wearing Blanket, 1860, Unknown

Artist, Navaho Peoples, USA
Small Bowl, 800 AD, Unknown Artist, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Huari Peoples, Peru
End End
The artist of the African Benin Empire

Emphasis made the chief the largest element of
the sculpture. That emphasized his
An artist may emphasize one importance. This may show Prince
element by making it the largest, Oranmiyan who introduced horses to
brightest or darkest. The Central the kingdom. The head is also larger,
Asian artist emphasized the central following the African tradition to honor
pattern by surrounding it with the source of intelligence.
black, making it stand out as the
brightest part of the design.
Woman’s Coat (Munisak),

1850, Unknown Artist, Uzbekistan, Equestrian Figure, 16th century,
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Unknown Artist, Nigeria, Africa
End End
Asymmetrical artworks
Balance have informal balance, the
shapes are not the same on
There are two types of balance. either side of an imaginary
Symmetrical artworks have formal line. It gives energy and
balance – the right side is a mirror movement to an artwork or
of the left side. It is the same on can be unsettling.
both sides of an imaginary line. It
can be calming, reassuring
worshippers who used this in a
ritual.
Bell (Bo Zhong), Unknown Artist, 12th Horse from a Tomb Retinue,
century BC, China Unknown Artist, 8th century, China
Freer & Sackler Galleries Minneapolis Institute of Art
End End
8
Proportion is the pleasing
Unity relationship of all parts to each
other and the whole of the design.
When all parts of the The domes of the Taj Mahal are
composition work together, in proportion to the main part of
there is unity, either through the building – they do not look
proportion or variety. too big or too small.

1630-1653, India
Great Buildings Online
End End
Artists use variety to give interest – different shapes, lines and colors. Contrast
Nym Bandak’s painting has a wide variety of shapes and lines.
Contrast is when the artist uses
opposites of the same element.
The Tang artist contrasted the
dark blue color with the white
and gold which are light colors.
Contrast can be very eye-
catching.

Artist, 8th century, China
All The World, 1958, Nym Bandak, National Gallery of Art, Australia Minneapolis Institute of Art
End End
The African Ewe tribe artist Elements of Content

contrasted long vertical lines
with short horizontal lines. In
Now we will look at the Elements of Content
many places he also used
Elements of Content. Subject
contrasting colors –
Examples from our gallery Ideas
black/white and blue/yellow.
show us how artists use each
This helps create a pleasing Intention
one.
rhythm in the fabric. Symbols
Fabric Panel, 20th century,

Unknown Artist, Ghana, Africa
End End
9
Non-representational art is
Subject created with lines, shapes and
forms that do not show real
Representational subjects are people, places or things.
people, places and things that we can Schoppert used only shapes to
clearly identify. You can easily see create Blueberries, abstracted
that this is a person on a horse with a from clan animals found on the
crown or helmet and a shield. The totem poles of his tribe.
people of the Benin culture would
have also recognized the symbols of
power and kingship in it.
Blueberries, 1986, Jim Schoppert, United

States, National Museum of the
Equestrian Figure, 16th century,
American Indian
Unknown Artist, Nigeria, Africa
End End
The artist might also want to honor

Intention someone. There are no written
records, but African scholars believe
Intention is the artist’s purpose – that this could be a Benin chief or
why they created their art. The king because horses were a rare
artist may want to record a luxury reserved for royalty. Figures
beautiful person, place or event, as like this were placed on family altars
Hokusai did for the Festival of by sons to honor their fathers.
Lanterns in Osaka, Japan. People
could enjoy the scene all year,
remembering the ancestors honored
during the festival.

Katsushika Hokusai, Japan Equestrian Figure, 16th century,
Minneapolis Institute of Art Unknown Artist, Nigeria, Africa
End End
Artists create religious art that

Ideas promotes the beliefs of the
religion. Here his closed eyes
Artists frequently promote communicate the belief that
ideas in their art – a moral Buddha listens intently to the
that they want to teach prayers of his followers. The
people who see their art, or hand pointing down is the
something that is important “reassuring gesture,” belief in
to them. Buddha will bring salvation.

End End
10
Jim Schoppert believed that the
traditional forms of his tribe were Symbols
important, but he experimented
with them, breaking them into Symbols are images that represent
pieces and putting them back abstract ideas such as love or
together in new ways. If you spirituality. Most cultures have
study totem animals, you will see religious symbols for their gods,
the eye of the eagle, the fluke of a representing their primary
whale. characteristics. The Incan jaguar god
represented strength and power,
shown by his bared teeth, large eye
and strong jaw.

Blueberries, 1986, Jim Schoppert, United Huari Peoples, Peru
American Indian
End End
Australian Aboriginal artists have Many cultures have epic legends

used many symbols in their art for that combine symbolic myths and
at least 30,000 years. Nym Bandak history. This illustration is from
explained his tribe’s relationship the Hamzanama, an heroic tale of
with the earth, the sky and their the exploits of Amir Hamza, the
gods to an anthropologist through uncle of the prophet of Islam. The
this painting. Notice how the sky Hamzanama was traditionally told
forms a protective shield around the in dastan performances and
earth. originated more than 1,000 years
ago, probably in Persia, then
spread throughout the Islamic
world in oral and written forms.
All The World, 1958, Nym Bandak, Umar In Disguise, 1570, Unknown
National Gallery of Art, Australia Mahesh Artist, India
End End
You will analyze the artwork by

You will used these skills of formal analysis in our classroom discussions,
identifying and describing its
your section tests and for your research paper and presentation.
Elements of Design:
Line
Color
Shape
Texture
Space

The Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan, 1630-1653, India, Great Buildings Online Unknown Artist, Ghana, Africa
End End
11
You will identify and describe its You will identify and describe its
Principles of Design: Elements of Content:
Repetition Subject matter
Emphasis Ideas in the work
Balance Intention of the artist
Unity Symbols and symbolism
Contrast

Bell (Bo Zhong), Unknown Artist, 12th Unknown Artist, Thailand
century BC, China The Walters Art Museum
End End
Your Glossary of Terms can

also help you to use the correct Gallery of Artworks
vocabulary for all analysis and
assignments. You’ll see the same information Title, Date created
for each artwork. Artist, dates of birth and
The artworks are arranged by death (if known)
geographical area. Culture or country of origin
Medium
Size
Interesting facts

Metropolitan Museum of Art
End End
Equestrian Figure, 16th century Fabric Panel, 20th century

Artist Unknown Artist Unknown
Nigeria, Africa Ghana, W. Africa
Bronze Cotton
H: 18.5 inches, W: 5 inches, H: 72 inches,
D: 7 inches W: 45 inches
This sculpture was an offering on Royal Kente cloth panels
a royal altar, probably by a son like this were often woven
for his father. by men. There were many
traditional designs that used
specific colors and patterns.

Equestrian Figure, 16th century, Unknown Artist, Ghana, Africa
Unknown Artist, Nigeria, Africa Minneapolis Institute of Art
End End
12
Umar In Disguise, 1570 The Taj Mahal,
Mahesh, no dates 1630-1653
Mughal Dynasty, India Emperor Shah Jahan
Opaque watercolor and gold on (1592-1666)
cotton cloth Agra, India
H:79.2 cm W:64 cm Marble, sandstone and
This is an illustration from the jewels
Indian epic “Hamzanama,” Mausoleum and gardens
about the hero, Hamza, and his cover many acres
friends. It is meant to teach This is the tomb of the
people the correct way for an Emperor’s beloved wife.
individual to act. When she died Shah Jahan
spent years supervising the
creation of this monument.
Umar In Disguise, 1570, Unknown 1630-1653, India
Mahesh Artist, India Great Buildings Online
End End
Bell (Bo Zhong), Horse from a Tomb Retinue,

12th century BC 8th century
Shang Dynasty China T’ang Dynasty China
Bronze Earthenware, glaze
H: 31 cm W: 25 cm D: 15 cm H: 20 inches W: 20 inches
3,200 years ago, this bell was D:7 inches
probably used by a wealthy Wealthy Chinese families competed
family in religious ceremonies to buy the most beautiful tomb
to honor their ancestors. figures. Long before a person died,
they displayed these status symbols
in their home.

Bell (Bo Zhong), Unknown Artist, Artist, 8th century, China
12th century BC, China Minneapolis Institute of Art
End End
Airborne Angel with a Woman’s Coat (Munisak),

Rosary, 1565 1850
Khurasan, Central Asia Uzbekistan, Central Asia
Opaque watercolor and gold on Silk, Ikat dyed
paper H: 46.5 inches
H: 7.4 inches, The munisak was the most
W: 4.5 inches expensive item in a bride’s
The decorative style follows dowry. The colors and
Persian traditions and designs are traditional to
illustrates the great influence artworks made in the region.
of the Silk Road in
transmitting artistic styles. Woman’s Coat (Munisak),
1850, Unknown Artist, Uzbekistan,
Airborne Angel with a Rosary, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
1565, Unknown Artist, Central Asia
End End
13
The Festival of Lanterns, Seated Buddha, 1350
1827 Artist Unknown
Katsushika Hokusai Sukhothal, Thailand
(1760-1849) Bronze
Tokyo, Japan H: 27 inches W: 21 inches
Color woodblock print D: 9 inches
H: 10 inches This sculpture commemorates
W: 14 inches when Buddha started a flood
Hokusai revolutionized the that carried away evil forces.
art of the woodblock print The flame above Buddha’s
with the introduction of head is a style unique to
landscapes and depiction of Southeast Asian Buddhist art.
commoners. Katsushika Hokusai, Japan
Minneapolis Institute of Art Seated Buddha, 1350,
End End
All The World, 1958 Blueberries, 1986

Nym Bandak (1904-1981) Jim Schoppert (1947-
Aborigine, Australia 1992)
Paint on board Alaska, USA
Size not given Carved poplar panels and
The artist painted this to paint
explain his culture’s H: 72 inches
concept of the universe. W: 70 inches
They believe that each Schoppert was a Native
person is connected to their Alaskan who used
ancestors and to the spirits All The World, 1958, Nym Bandak, traditional animal forms to
of the earth and animals. National Gallery of Art, Australia create modern art. He
wanted to base a new art
on his tribal heritage.
Blueberries, 1986, Jim Schoppert, United
American Indian
End End
Wearing Blanket, 1860 Small Bowl, 800 AD

Navaho Peoples, USA Huari Peoples, Peru
Wool Earthenware and paint
H: 69 inches W: 48 inches H: 3 inches
The horizontal, diamond and The Incan Empire prized
zigzag shapes follow ancient pottery and helped artists
traditional patterns. The wool export their artworks to
was dyed with organic materials other areas all over South
such as roots, berries and America along the
minerals. extensive road system
developed by their
government.

Huari Peoples, Peru
Metropolitan Museum of Art
End End
14
The ability to formally analyze
artworks is an important skill for
our Non-Western Art History
course.
It should help you enjoy your
journey of exploration!
Umar In Disguise, 1570, Unknown

Mahesh Artist, India
End
85 Elements & Principles of Design Art 244
15

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Just as a carpenter has tools

to build a house, artists have

Exploring the Visual Arts of

Airborne Angel with a Rosary,

An artist may use some or all of When we do a formal analysis

Seated Buddha, 1350,

Through formal analysis, we This presentation illustrates your

Woman’s Coat (Munisak), Fabric Panel, 20th century,

The Principles of Design The Elements of Content

Let’s see how artists from

Small Bowl, 800 AD, Unknown Artist,

The Festival of Lanterns, 1827,

Lines can be built up to

Fabric Panel, 20th century, Unknown Artist, Ghana,

The Festival of Lanterns, 1827,

Woman’s Coat (Munisak),

Airborne Angel with a Rosary,

Blueberries, 1986, Horse from a Tomb Retinue, Unknown

Less saturated colors are dull or

Seated Buddha, 1350,

Geometric shapes include Organic shapes follow the

Equestrian Figure, 16th century,

In paintings, there are implied Here the artist implies textures

Umar In Disguise, 1570, Unknown

Space A sculpture or building has a third

Bell (Bo Zhong), Unknown Artist, 12th

The Festival of Lanterns, 1827, Umar In Disguise, 1570, Unknown

The Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan,

Principles of Design Repetition

Bell (Bo Zhong), Unknown Artist, 12th

Wearing Blanket, 1860, Unknown

The artist of the African Benin Empire

Woman’s Coat (Munisak),

The Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan,

Horse from a Tomb Retinue, Unknown

The African Ewe tribe artist Elements of Content

Fabric Panel, 20th century,

Blueberries, 1986, Jim Schoppert, United

The artist might also want to honor

The Festival of Lanterns, 1827,

Artists create religious art that

Seated Buddha, 1350,

Small Bowl, 800 AD, Unknown Artist,

Australian Aboriginal artists have Many cultures have epic legends

You will analyze the artwork by

Fabric Panel, 20th century,

Seated Buddha, 1350,

Your Glossary of Terms can

Wearing Blanket, 1860, Unknown

Equestrian Figure, 16th century Fabric Panel, 20th century

Fabric Panel, 20th century,

Bell (Bo Zhong), Horse from a Tomb Retinue,

Horse from a Tomb Retinue, Unknown

Airborne Angel with a Woman’s Coat (Munisak),

All The World, 1958 Blueberries, 1986

Wearing Blanket, 1860 Small Bowl, 800 AD

Small Bowl, 800 AD, Unknown Artist,

Umar In Disguise, 1570, Unknown