Despite the seemingly indefinable nature of art, there have
always existed certain formal guidelines for its aesthetic
judgment and analysis. Formalism is a concept in art theory in
which an artwork’s artistic value is determined solely by its
form, or how it is made. Formalism evaluates works on a purely
visual level, considering medium and compositional elements
as opposed to any reference to realism , context, or content.
Art is often examined through the interaction of
the principles and elements of art. The principles of art
include movement, unity, harmony, variety, balance, contrast,
proportion and pattern. The elements include texture, form,
space, shape, color, value and line. The various interactions
between the elements and principles of art help artists to
organize sensorially pleasing works of art while also giving
viewers a framework within which to analyze and discuss
aesthetic ideas.
What Does Art Do?
A fundamental purpose inherent to most artistic
disciplines is the underlying intention to appeal to, and
connect with, human emotion.