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Jurate Macnoriute
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The Research of artworks
on semantic level. The Method of Diagonals and Perpendiculars to Them
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On semantic level the relation
between artwork and its meaning is elucidated or in other words figurative
and plastic forms are studied. Elements are researched with respect
to sintagmatic axis.
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The author of this article
is a painter herself, that is why most analyses of the articles in THE
SECRETS OF PERFECTION are interrelated with artistic creation. I try to
analyse such problems and to find such solutions which can be applied in
painting practice. For this once I want to represent one of my methods
which I created more then 20 years ago and which can be related with narrative
level of analysis, i.e. the method of diagonals and perpendiculars to them.
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The figure consisted of diagonals
and perpendiculars to them which intersect in centre of picture is drawn.
This figure remind of vanes. In Corel DRAW let us lay such "vanes"
on reproduction so that their centre would coincide with one or other composition
centre of picture. Then vanes' lines touch or intersect other similar to
compositional centre details. We can elucidate this property on Rudolf
Arnheim's proposition that similar parts form some visible models... The
more simple such model the more group is visible (R.Arnheim, Art and
Visual Perception, 1974, p. 82-83). Visibility of group means high
degree of arrangement. Arrangement is one of conditions of existence of
harmony and art (L.Mironova, Science of Colour, Minsk, 1984, p.
61, in Russian). Therefore models of similar parts are simple in art. Thus
described above vanes gather together picture's details which form most
simple models -- right angled triangles with apexes on compositional centres.
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This regularity perhaps better
of all reveal itself in artworks of plot painters. Thus
for demonstration of the method I chose a couple of paintings of
maestro of plot painting Russian artist Pavel Fedotov
(1815-1852).
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Analysis
of Pavel Fedotov's pictures The Breakfast of Aristocrat and The
Matchmaking of Major using method of diagonals and perpendiculars.
Let us match vanes' centre with a subject -- the head of aristocrat. Then in one direction vanes'
lines intersect doggie, in another hidden hunk of bread, scrap of paper
on the chair, top of the door, where jingled the doorbell, because somebody
is coming. There are some things in one direction (going down) and they
are not dangerous for the subject -- doggie; in another direction (rising)
irritated ones are -- guest, rubbish and food in his hand (direction
from the left lower corner to the right upper one is rising and direction
from the left upper corner to the right lower is going down -- through
motion of sun).
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If vanes' centre is coincidental
with doggies body, then vanes' lines show: the head of owner of
the room is in "clear" direction and legs of owner and guest in "irritated"
direction -- perhaps it needs to bark. Taking into account euphoric
or disphoric character of object in respect of concrete subject, we can
call them potential objects and anti objects of value (object -- thing
desired by subject; anti subject -- not desired, unpleasant or even harmful
one).
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Such character of rising
and going down directions in respect of potential objects and anti objects
of value is not characteristic for every artwork. We can find pictures
with reverse or one sided distribution, i. e. when only objects of value
are around subject or only anti objects, as in another picture of P.Fedotov
The Matchmaking of Major.
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So the bride is becoming
embarrassed, because her clothing and table are not yet prepared for wedding
feast; the black dressed beaded man is enjoying women breasts;
the washing its face itself cat is looking only after hands of women --
maybe someone smoothies it or regales with delicious piece.
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In that way vanes' lines
often bind important plot's details and help to establish subject's field
of interests. In other words, vanes' lines help to establish objects and
anti objects of value. Using of such vanes also is not complicated.
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Go to my other articles
in archives
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I apologize
for my Lithuanian accent again.
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Copyright
© 2001, Jurate Macnoriute
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