Art Made Simple(r) II: Texture, Shape, Form, and Space

In my previous article, I covered three of the basic elements of art: color, value, and line. Now I will cover the final four elements in the same fashion, with explanations and examples that fit each of the principle terms.

If color, value, and line produce the "look" of what is seen on the page, then texture gives the audience a good idea of what the surfaces represented in the art might feel like if touched. Sometimes the textures of art can be simply the result of masterful brushstrokes, and other times artists will actually create textures using a variety of materials.

Let's first revisit Artemisia Gentileschi's painting from the last article (Judith and Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes). In this painting the texture of Judith's dress contrasts with the dress of her servant. Judith's dress is made of a shiny, high gloss fabric, and her servants' with a rough and plain material. The way the fabric moves in the painting gives a great deal of information about the texture. Judith's cloth moves stiffly and creases easily.

The candlelight reflects off of the yellow gloss of the moving fabric. From this, we can infer that Judith wears a kind of satin as an outer garment, and so we can mentally "feel" the texture of the dress. The maid, who is shrouded in darkness, yet gives us important clues about her dress. Hers is a looser, less formal dress that can be felt as softer and less regal in style than the ornate satin of Judith.

All of this information is intentionally given to the audience to clearly mark the event of the Bible that is being described, and to carefully connote the social standings of the individuals therein. All of this comes just from the texture of the two dresses.

The Kiss, by Auguste Rodin

Credit: Rodin

Copyright: Rodin