Transcript Purposes of Art

Purposes of Visual
Arts
Ceremonial, Artistic Expression,
Narrative, Functional, Persuasive
Ceremonial Art

Artworks created to support worship
ceremonies, rituals, and celebrations.
Worn by the initiation leaders during
the initiation rites, the mask represents
the face of the Yaka ancestors who
established the boys' initiation
ceremonies.
Artistic Expression

Artwork intended to express or
communicate emotions, ideas, feelings (e.g.,
for self-expression, to decorate or beautify
objects)
Marcel Duchamp. (American, born France. 18871968). Bicycle Wheel. New York 1951 (third version,
after lost original of 1913). Metal wheel mounted on
painted wood stool, 51 x 25 x 16 1/2" (129.5 x 63.5
x 41.9 cm).
Narrative Artworks

Artworks that tell stories, describe and
illustrate experiences, or communicate
information, art to document important or
historical events
Dorothea Lange
White Angel Bread Line
1932
Functional Artworks

Artistic objects used in everyday life (e.g.,
pottery, quilts, baskets, etc.).
Amy Sanders
Persuasive Artworks

Artworks that promote ideas, philosophies,
or products (e.g., advertising, marketing,
propaganda, ideology, etc.)
Subject Matter in Art



Representational (e.g., landscape, portrait,
still life)
Abstract (Recognizable, but distorted)
Nonrepresentational (non-objective)