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Reading Image and Rule of The Third

This document discusses techniques for analyzing and understanding visual artworks. It provides guidelines for "reading" an image, including considering the title, artist, medium, dimensions, date, and provenance of the work. It also outlines four levels of content in a work of art: 1) the semiotic plane focuses on physical/technical elements, 2) the iconic plane analyzes subjects and their relationships, 3) the contextual plane considers socio-political implications, and 4) the thematic plane views the work in relation to its historical/cultural influences. Additionally, it explains that the "rule of thirds" is a compositional guideline that recommends placing important elements along the thirds lines or intersections to create a more interesting

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988 views

Reading Image and Rule of The Third

This document discusses techniques for analyzing and understanding visual artworks. It provides guidelines for "reading" an image, including considering the title, artist, medium, dimensions, date, and provenance of the work. It also outlines four levels of content in a work of art: 1) the semiotic plane focuses on physical/technical elements, 2) the iconic plane analyzes subjects and their relationships, 3) the contextual plane considers socio-political implications, and 4) the thematic plane views the work in relation to its historical/cultural influences. Additionally, it explains that the "rule of thirds" is a compositional guideline that recommends placing important elements along the thirds lines or intersections to create a more interesting

Uploaded by

giezele ballatan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reading Image and Rule of the Third

Reading Image of the Visual Work

In understanding the art, one must be able to read the visual work (for example – painting,
print, sculpture, architecture, film, advertising images) as a that conveys a complex of concepts, feelings,
attitudes, moods, atmosphere and value that derives from world views and ideologies, public or
personal. One must also read the work to be able to evaluate it in terms of conveying signification
according to Alice Guillermo

She further said that with respect to the form of the work, there are several issues that have to
considered. Each visual art form, be in painting, poster, comics, illustrations and the like has its own
technical standard of excellence and this depend upon the choice and use of a medium with its
particular properties and suitable techniques.

Therefore, in reading an image of a visual work, it is important for us to familiarize ourselves


with the various art medium and techniques as well as processes involved in art-making because these
enter into the meaning of the work.

Alice G. Guillermo enumerated the basic contemporary information required in reading a work
of art.
1. Title of the work. Although the title may be significant or insignificant to the meaning of the
work, one should know the relation of the title to the work.
The title may or may not contribute to the work meaning or identifies the subject, or
bears an ironic relationship to the work, or a witty comment about the work or its
subject.

2. Name of Artists. Another documentary information concerning the image is the name of the
artists, particularly their biography. The following information must be supplied in addition to
their names –
● Generation the artist belongs
● Dominant artistic trends during their active years
● Name of their peers
● Personal background and training
● Record, diaries, and published statements which may shed light on their art.

3. Medium and technique. The following documentaries are needed in identifying medium and
techniques.
● Determine whether the medium is academic or non-academic, artistic choice as in
mixed media or multimedia
● Keen awareness of the work of art in terms of artistic process involving particular
mediums and techniques
● Identify the particular kind of materials used
● Note to be added regarding the ground of a painting (such as cloth, canvass, wood)

4. Dimensions of measurements. The format of the work is a part of its dimensions. The
dimensions may be measured by metric system. The measurements may be big, large-scale,
mural size, average, small or miniature. The usual format of a painting is rectangular. However,
symbolism may come into play such as the square or circular format.

5. Date of work. The date of the work which was completed provides the historical context of the
work. It also provides the historical context of the work. It also provides information as to what
period of the artist development the work belongs, and finally, the date of the work situates in
art history, that is it tells whether the art work belongs to a particular trend, school, or
movement.

6. Provenance. This is indicated by the name of the owner of the artwork, of the collector of the
work, or whether it belongs to an art museum, art gallery, or a private collection.

Levels of Content in Art


1. 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 nothing to do with the signs.

2. Iconic Plane or Image of the Self. 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 subject are chosen and the figure relates to the
viewer is analyzed in the iconic plane.

3. 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 to socio-political implications of the work. It
drags out the relationship between the art and society. Further, it makes art in touched with
reality.

4. Thematic Plane. Every art has historical or cultural influence. Art is viewed in relation to its time,
the ideologies and concerns of that period. The theme is derived from the significant
circumstances of the artist and therefore a good analysis within this plane demands that the
viewer knows the artist’s background.

The Rule of the Third


The rule of third is a “rule of thumb” or guideline which applies to the process of composing
visual images such as designs, films, paintings and photographs.
The guidelines proposes that an image be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two
equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these
lines or their intersections. 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 rule of third 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 third is to discourage placement of
the subject at the center, or prevent a horizon from appearing to divide the picture in half.

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