POWER School of Technology Inc.

Subject Code/Description: GE6 – Art Appreciation

Year/Course: MM/FM/HR/AIS 1
Teacher : Ms. Melanie A. Bersamina
Contact Details: 09175058176- melaniebersamina@gmail.com

Course Packet # : NO. 5, WEEK 7

Module Name : Reading Image and Rule of the Third

Period Covered : March 14 – 21, 2024

Introduction

We begin with the basic premise that there are two interrelated aspects in the study of art. The first is
that art has its specificity: that is, its particular language or vocabulary that has to do with the mediums,
techniques, and visual elements of art that constitute it as a distinct area of human knowledge and signifying
practice. This is not just what is commonly called the formal aspect of art, but it is what constitutes art as a
particular human activity different from the others. The other aspect is that art, while it has its specificity, is
at the same time historically situated and shaped by social, economic, and political forces. Both these aspects
need to be taken into account so as to be able to fully understand and appreciate art. For a study of the formal
elements alone will not lead to a full understanding of the work, in the same way that the exclusive study of
the social determinants risks collapsing the artistic into the sociological. A visual work as an iconic or pictorial
sign has a unique and highly nuanced meaning, and this uniqueness and semantic richness arises from the
original use of the elements and resources of art. Needless to say, the meaning, signification, or system of
significations of a work is not statemental, nor is the understanding of a work a reductive process which
reduces meaning to a summary, statement, or single insight. Meaning in art is a complex of intellectual,
emotional, and sensory significations which the work conveys and to which the viewer responds, bringing in
the breadth of his or her cultural background, artistic exposure and training, and human experience in a
dialogic relationship with the art work.

Reading the Image

In the visual arts, one has to read the image presented to the viewers. The viewer does not only stand in
front of the picture without knowing what it is. One has to begin with the basic premise that there are two
interrelated aspects in the study of art. The first is that art has its specificity: that is, its particular language or
vocabulary has to do with the mediums, techniques, and visual elements of art that constitute it as a distinct
area of human knowledge and signifying practice. This is not just what is commonly called the formal aspect
of art, but it is what constitutes art as a particular human activity different from the others. The other aspect
is that art, while it has its specificity, is at the same time historically situated and shaped by social, economic,
and political forces. Both these aspects need to be taken into account so as to be able to fully understand and
appreciate art. To fully appreciate and understand art the following are to be taken into consideration:

1. The basic semiotic plane - According to the acclaimed art critic Alice Guillermo, the basic semiotic plane
covers the elements and the general technical and physical aspects of the work with their semantic (meaning
conveying potential)." The term "semiotic" has something to do with signs. In this case, the painting is the
sign - a pictorial sign. Just like a body which is comprised of many parts, a sign is composed of elements which
connote meaning and significance.

1|P age
 POWER School of Technology Inc.
Subject Code/Description: GE6 – Art Appreciation
Year/Course: MM/FM/HR/AIS 1
Teacher : Ms. Melanie A. Bersamina
Contact Details: 09175058176- melaniebersamina@gmail.com

A painting is governed by principles of organization. Namely, these are balance, contrast, gradation,
harmony, alternation, variation and dominance. Also, it is embodied by elements of design such as the line,
shape, color, value, texture, direction and size, among others. When put altogether, these factors constitute
the physical appearance of the work. These elements determine the impact of the work to the one who gazes
at it.
2. The Iconic Plane - According to Guillermo, while the semiotic plane deals with the material elements of the
image, the iconic plane is concerned with its particular aspects and features. In this plane, the subjects and
objects of the painting and their interrelationship with each other are scrutinized in detail. How the subjects
are chosen and the figure relates to the viewer is analyzed in the iconic plane.
3. The Contextual Plane - For Guillermo, "resituating the work in its context will bring out the meaning of the
work in terms of its human and social implications". This is where the contextual plane comes into the picture.
This plane brings to fore the socio-political implications of the work. It drags out the relationship between
the art and society. Further, it makes art in touched with reality.

The Assassination of Governor Bustamante by Hidalgo (Courtesy of National Museum)

Let us analyze the painting above. Hidalgo's La Tragedia is an interesting painting as far as how lines
and colors are used. The scene is set in a stairway. As such, horizontal and vertical lines are evident. The
windows and banners accentuate the lines all the more. However, oblique lines dominate the upper, central
and lower parts of the painting as depicted by the bending human figures - friars and guards alike - caught in
a chaotic situation. Oblique lines are also shown by the thick, diagonally-oriented stair railings and risers
illustrated in the right portion of the painting. Tilted lines are also seen through the spears of the guards.
Observe the picture and make a reading out of it.

The Rule of the Third

The rule of thirds is a "rule of thumb" or guideline which applies to the process of composing visual
images such as designs, films, paintings, and photographs (Meech, 2007).

2|P age
 POWER School of Technology Inc.
Subject Code/Description: GE6 – Art Appreciation
Year/Course: MM/FM/HR/AIS 1
Teacher : Ms. Melanie A. Bersamina
Contact Details: 09175058176- melaniebersamina@gmail.com

The guideline proposes that an image should be imagined

as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal
lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important
compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their
intersections (Peterson, 2003). Proponents of the technique claim
that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension,
energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the
subject.

The photograph to the left demonstrates the application of

the rule of thirds. Divide the picture into nine equal parts as shown
above. The horizon sits at the horizontal line dividing the lower
third of the photo from the upper two-thirds. The tree sits at the
intersection of two lines, sometimes called a power point or a crash
point. Points of interest in the photo do not have to actually touch
one of these lines to take advantage of the rule of thirds. For
example, the brightest part of the sky near the horizon where the sun
recently set does not fall directly on one of the lines, but does fall near the intersection of two of the lines,
close enough to take advantage of the rule.

The rule of thirds is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points,
placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to
section. The main reason for observing the rule of thirds is to discourage placement of the subject at the
center, or prevent a horizon from appearing to divide the picture in half. Michael Ryan and Melissa Lenos,
authors of the book "An Introduction to Film Analysis: Technique and Meaning in Narrative Film" state that
the use of rule of thirds is "favored by cinematographers in their effort to design balanced and unified images"
(Krages, 2005).

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3|P age
 POWER School of Technology Inc.
Subject Code/Description: GE6 – Art Appreciation
Year/Course: MM/FM/HR/AIS 1
Teacher : Ms. Melanie A. Bersamina
Contact Details: 09175058176- melaniebersamina@gmail.com

Module 5 Assignment
Reading Image and Rule of the Third

Name: Date:
Course: Instructor:

A. Collect and paste at least two arts pictures and try reading or interpret the image on the picture. What does
the artist want to convey in his work?

Picture 1:

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4|P age
 POWER School of Technology Inc.
Subject Code/Description: GE6 – Art Appreciation
Year/Course: MM/FM/HR/AIS 1
Teacher : Ms. Melanie A. Bersamina
Contact Details: 09175058176- melaniebersamina@gmail.com

Picture 2:

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B. Draw a view of a landscape using a crayon based on the rule of the third. Observe carefully the rule as pointed
out.

5|P age