READING THE

IMAGE: PLANE OF
ANALYSIS
Plane
Our self-impression and description
towards the art forms refer immediately to
the overall visual appearance of an artwork
Keywords of Planes:
a. Plane
any surface area within space
in two-dimensional art, the “picture
plane” is the flat surface that the image
is created upon, such as paper, canvas,
or wood
b. Three-dimensional figures
may be depicted on the flat
picture plane through the use of
the artistic elements to imply
depth and volume
Flowers in a Ceramic Vase
by Jan Brueghel the Elder
c. Distortions of Space and Foreshortening
A method for presenting foreshortened
geometry systematically onto a plane surface,
was unknown for another 300 years.
These projectors interest with an imaginary
plane of projection and an image is created on
the plane by the points of intersection.
Christ, The Mourning over the Dead Christ,
tempera on wood panel
by Andrea Mantegna
d. Color Field Painting
characterized primarily by its use of large
fields of flat, solid color spread across or
stained into the canvas creating areas of
unbroken surface and a flat picture plane
(Camille, 1992)
e. Cézanne
named after Paul Cézanne, a French artist
and Post-Impressionist painter whose work
laid the foundations in 19th Century.
He used planes of color and small
brushstrokes to form complex fields and
convey intense study of his subjects.
A discussion of The Basket of Apples (c. 1893)
by Paul Cézanne
f. Linear Perspective
a technique artist developed during the
Renaissance to accurately depict three-
dimensional space on a two-dimensional picture
plane, such as the canvas of a painting
THE DIFFERENT
PLANES OF ART
1. The Semiotic Plane
It is the study of “signs” whether iconic or pictorial
sign.
It consists of a “signifier” or its material/physical
aspect and its “signified” or non-material aspect
as concept and value.
The semiosis of the bahay-kubo represents the
image of a typical house of farmers in a rural area.
1. The Semiotic Plane
It aims to answer the following:
A. Is it two-dimensional or three-dimensional
picture?
B. What do the symbols used represent?
C. Why are such symbols used?
D. How are the symbols related to each other and
created oneness?
2. The Iconic Plane
It basically includes the choice of the subject
which may bear social and political
implications
The bahay-kubo implies the farmers’ humble
economic status with limited income.
2. The Iconic Plane
It aims to answer the following questions:
A. What is the main topic of the artwork?
B. What is the artwork all about?
C. What issue and trend are depicted by the
artwork?
D. How does the artwork create impact on the
minds of the viewers?
3. The Contextual Plane
The viewer draws out the dialogic relationship of art and
society.
Art sources it energy and vitality from its social context
and returns to it as a cognitive force and catalyst for
change.
The bahay-kubo represents the artist’s experience as a
son or a daughter of a farmer.
It also represents the context of powerlessness,
simplicity, and resilience.
3. The Contextual Plane
It aims to answer the following questions:
A. What message does the artwork give to the viewers?
B. What emotions does the artwork draw out from the
viewers?
C. What societal state is portrayed in the artwork that
gives subliminal message on the minds of the viewers?
D. How does the artwork invite the viewers to do some
actions?
4. The Axiological Plane
This has something to do with analyzing the
values of a work and its entire being and
connection with the viewers.
The structure of bahay-kubo is designed to
meet the tropical weather conditions of the
Philippines.
4. The Axiological Plane
It aims to answer the following questions:
A. Do the elements of colors, shapes, space, texture, etc.
of the artwork complement harmoniously?
B. Is the artwork free from biases and prejudices among
gender, religion, and any sector?
C. Is the artwork influential to the viewers? In what
sense?
D. What are the emotional and the mental states or
cultural and social background of the artist?
READING THE
IMAGE: FOUR
PLANES OF
ANALYSIS
 MANNER OF
PRESENTING ART AND
LEVELS AND MEANING
OF SUBJECT
Common Ways of Presenting Art
a. Realism
b. Abstraction
c. Surrealism
d. Fauvism
e. Dadaism
f. Expressionism
g. Futurism
h. Symbolism
a. Realism
“what you see is what you get”
artists portray subjects exactly in replicas in either 2-
dimensional or 3-dimensional byproduct
no modifications are made
b. Abstraction
finds its meaning with the artist
The predisposition of meaning is deposited with
the maker of the work.
the manner or the process of simplifying or
reorganizing objects and elements either with shapes
or colors
Abstract art = refers to the visual works that move
beyond reality as contrasted to realism that gives us
the notion of preciseness
4 Subcategories of Abstraction
1.Cubism
2.Distortion
3.Mangling
4.Abstract Expressionism
1. Cubism
takes precedence as a highly influential visual art in
the 20th century
Pablo Picasso’s work became a landmark in this
visual art presentation
the common characteristics of this art comprise the
two-dimensional surface of the picture plan or apply
geometric forms or figures, that emphasize the
flatness, and also reject the traditional forms of
foreshortening, modeling, coloring, and perspectives
2. Distortion
an alteration of the shape
the form may appear twisted or bent out from its
original shape or form in its regular condition
commonly used as an expressive technique
rendering emphasis or superimposition to depict
disturbance in peace to induce emotions and trigger
anxiety
3. Mangling
a Dadaist approach (a rebellious movement
towards realism) to art, and it was introduced
around 1918
the common characteristics of this presentation
are the qualities of being mutilated, cut, crushed,
slashed, and disfigured; an exaggeration beyond
distortion
4. Abstract Expressionism
also known as color field or action painting or
“gestural abstraction” because the work of art
becomes an event
the “manner of production” is the subject of the art
characteristics of this presentation include
messiness and exceptionally energetic applications
of paint which have been introduced into the art
scene after World War II.
4. Abstract Expressionism
part of the distinguishing features of the art
includes spontaneity, movement, freedom, and
personal expression
c. Surrealism
a way of representing the subject by
combining realism and distortion
involves contradictions of situations of reality
and that of absolute reality
some parts are causing “suspension of
disbelief”
often compared to a dream state in art
d. Fauvism
employs colors in art presentation
artists use colors as bright as they can be to
express joy, fun, quirk, and freedom
Artists: Henri Matisse, Vincnet Van Gogh,
and Paul Cezanne = Fauves, avant-garde or
the “wild beasts”
e. Dadaism
started as a protest against art in Zurich,
Switzerland
Dada means hobby horse which technically
means “non-sensical” way of presenting art
intends to express art in an offensive,
provocative manner against the “proper” art
f. Expressionism
Characterized by free brushwork, generous,
and textured pigment, the color is intense, and
non-naturalistic.
depiction of subjects with swirling, swaying
brushstrokes
g. Futurism
also called as “modernism”
characterized by technology, modernity,
youth, and speed
common themes and objects: airplanes, cars,
modern inventions or technological
advancements, and urbanized cities
h. Symbolism
depicts reality however incorporates images,
subjects, elements, or references that are
almost universally recognizable
symbols are inserted to cameo the whole
picture
also alive in films, drama, songs/poetry, and
prose
DIFFERENT LEVELS
AND MEANINGS OF
SUBJECT OF
ARTWORK
1. Factual Meaning
The most rudimentary or simple level of
meaning
May be extracted from the identifiable or
recognizable forms in the artwork and
understanding how these elements relate to
one another
2. Conventional Meaning
Pertains to the acknowledged
interpretation of the artwork using motifs,
signs, and symbols and other cyphers as
bases of its meaning
These conventions are established through
time, strengthened by recurrent use and wide
acceptance by its viewers or audience and
scholars who study them
3. Subjective Meaning
a variety of meanings may arise when a
particular work of art is read
these meanings stem from the viewer’s or
audience’s circumstances that come into
play when engaging with art (what we know,
what we learned, what we experienced, what
values we stand for)
Example Analysis:
Subject: Biblical Art
Factual Meaning: Creation
Story (Creation of Man)
Conventional Meaning: Man
was created in the image and
likeness of God
Subjective Meaning:
Endowment of intellect to man
from God
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