Deck 2: The Language of Art

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a primary color?

A) blue
B) yellow
C) red
D) green

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Cross-hatching implies depth by

A) suggesting relative proximity to a light source.
B) drawing the eye to one part of the composition and thereby establishing other objects as peripheral.
C) making a nearer object overlap a more distant one.
D) placing the base of one object closer to the bottom of the canvas than other, more "distant" objects.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A flat surface having a direction in space is referred to as a

A) line.
B) value.
C) plane.
D) curve.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The characteristic way in which an artist combines formal elements is known as the artist's

A) style.
B) expression.
C) balance.
D) composition.

Question 5

Which type of line indicates aggression and strength?

A) angular
B) thick
C) thin
D) flat

Question 6

How many principal colors are there in the spectrum?

A) three
B) four
C) seven
D) twelve

Question 7

Which type of line indicates gracefulness and the human body?

A) wavy
B) perpendicular
C) zigzag
D) parallel

Question 8

Which type of line indicates calmness?

A) angular
B) thick
C) thin
D) flat

Question 9

An architectural drawing in which all parts of a building are diagrammed as if the building is turned at an oblique angle to a flat drawing service is said to be

A) foreshortened.
B) a plan.
C) biomorphic.
D) axonometric.

Question 10

What is a vanishing point?

A) the shading on an object used to imply depth
B) the edges of a picture plane
C) the point where orthogonals seem to converge
D) any object whose existence is implied in a painting but which exists outside of the composition

Question 11

The overall plan or structure of a work of art is known as its

A) balance.
B) composition.
C) expression.
D) shape.

Question 12

Hues containing a common color in different proportions are said to be

A) analogous.
B) tertiary.
C) achromatic.
D) axonometric.

Question 13

In art, irregular shapes are referred to as

A) geometric.
B) biomorphic.
C) axonometric.
D) orthogonal.

Question 14

Which type of line indicates balance and harmony?

A) wavy
B) perpendicular
C) zigzag
D) parallel

Question 15

The simplest form of balance is symmetry, which is achieved when

A) an equilibrium exists between the two sides of an equal axis, even if the sides do not resemble each other directly.
B) a perception of depth is created.
C) only primary colors are used.
D) two sides of a work are mirror images of each other.

Question 16

Which type of line indicates force and counterforce?

A) wavy
B) perpendicular
C) zigzag
D) parallel

Question 17

An artist wishing to create a strong, eye-catching contrast should juxtapose two

A) monochromatic colors.
B) primary colors.
C) complementary colors.
D) analogous hues.

Question 18

Which type of line indicates delicateness and weakness?

A) angular
B) thick
C) thin
D) flat

Question 19

Which type of line indicates aggression and sharpness?

A) wavy
B) perpendicular
C) zigzag
D) parallel

Question 20

Using the word "plan" in an architectural sense, what would be the plan of a cube?

A) cube
B) square
C) circle
D) triangle

Question 21

Tertiary colors are formed by combining two primary colors.

Question 22

The difference between nonfigurative and abstract works is that

A) abstract artworks might contain recognizable subject matter.
B) nonfigurative artwork might contain recognizable subject matter.
C) abstract artwork might not accurately depict real objects.
D) nonfigurative artwork might not accurately depict real objects.

Question 23

A work that depicts figures and objects with some nonorganic surface elements among more realistic elements is said to be

A) illusionistic.
B) idealized.
C) stylized.
D) romanticized.

Question 24

Westerners, who read from right to left, would likely understand the directionality of a sloping line differently from people who read from left to right.

Question 25

By definition, balanced art must be symmetrical.

Question 26

Which of the following colors is generally regarded as "warm"?

A) blue
B) green
C) violet
D) yellow

Question 27

Not all colors are visible to the human eye.

Question 28

The vanishing point of a composition is always located on the composition's horizon.

Question 29

Whose series of studies that resulted in Composition (The Cow) traces the progress of an image from naturalism to geometric abstraction?

A) van Gogh
B) van Doesburg
C) Calder
D) Bernini

Question 30

Since art is primarily a visual medium, scholars do not distinguish between actual and simulated textures of works of art.

Question 31

A work that depicts figures and objects in such a way as to resemble their actual appearance is said to be

A) realistic.
B) idealized.
C) stylized.
D) romanticized.

Question 32

Leonardo's Vitruvian Man exemplifies the principle of symmetry.

Question 33

A work that depicts figures and objects in a fanciful, mysterious, or nostalgic way is said to be

A) realistic.
B) illusionistic.
C) naturalistic.
D) romanticized.

Question 34

A work that depicts figures and objects according to an accepted standard of beauty is said to be

A) naturalistic.
B) illusionistic.
C) realistic.
D) idealized.

Question 35

Adding white to a color alters both its hue and its value.

Question 36

Alexander Calder's Cat provides evidence to support the argument that there is no relationship between signifier and signified.

Question 37

Artistic lines have more qualities than geometric lines, which have only length and direction.

Question 38

A work that depicts figures and objects more or less as we see them is said to be

A) illusionistic.
B) naturalistic.
C) stylized.
D) idealized.

Question 39

A work that depicts figures and objects so convincingly that an appearance of reality is created is said to be

A) illusionistic.
B) naturalistic.
C) stylized.
D) romanticized.

Question 40

Another word for a color's saturation is its

A) value.
B) intensity.
C) shade.
D) tone.

Question 41

How are understandings of lines and shapes related to human physiognomy?

Question 42

What are the various types of shapes used in works of art? What qualities do different shapes express?

Question 43

How do different types of lines express different qualities?

Question 44

What are the various categories into which the subject matter of artistic works is divided? How distinct are the divisions among the categories?

Question 45

How can two-dimensional lines be used to convey three-dimensional depth?

Question 46

What are the various attributes of colors? How can those attributes change?

Question 47

What is the significance of the story about Apelles' and Protogenes' dueling lines for the modern student of art? Is there more to the story than just the ancient proverb to which it gave rise?