The Element of Texture
Read this discussion of texture or the tactile sense we get from the surface of a shape or volume, such as smooth, rough, velvety, or prickly.
Texture is the tactile sense we get from the surface of a shape or volume. Texture comes in two forms:
- Actual: the real surface qualities we perceive by running a hand over an object.
- Visual: an implied sense of texture created by the artist by manipulating their materials.
An artwork can include many different visual textures and still feel
smooth to the touch. Robert Rauschenberg's mixed media print Skyway
includes rough and smooth visual textures that add layers of perception
and animate the work, drawing attention to specific areas. A
self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh below swirls with actual textures
created with brushstrokes loaded with
paint. The artist fixes his gaze sternly at the viewer, his spiky
red beard and flowing hair rendered so texturally that you want to reach out
and touch them.
Self Portrait, Vincent van Gogh, 1889, oil on canvas. Musee d'Orsay, Paris.
Photographs can hold lots of examples of visual texture. A grainy
film exposure adds to this effect. Louis Daguerre's early photograph of
his studio below shows many objects with textures jumbled across the
smooth photographic paper. These, along with
the strong contrast in dark and light tones, enrich the photograph
with a sense of drama not necessarily inherent to the objects.
Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre, Still Life in the Artist's Studio, 1837
Three-dimensional artworks make generous use of actual textures. The face mask
from the Ivory Coast of Africa incorporates textures from materials
ranging from wood,
horns, fibers, cloth, metal, and feathers. The complexity of the
composition is directly related to the many textures found in the mask.
For instance, the relative smoothness of the dark ovoid shape of the
face focuses our attention even though it
competes with the surrounding ornaments, textures, and forms. The
masks honor deceased elders of the Senufo tribe from the Ivory Coast.
We have now covered the essential artistic elements. Each one has its own characteristics and limitations. They add variety and complexity, becoming the building blocks in creating art. We will rely on them to describe different kinds of artworks in the learning activities for this module. This will give you the practice and experience you'll need to use the description as an objective way to discuss the art you experience.
Saylor Academy Knowledge Check
Source: Christopher Gildow, http://opencourselibrary.org/art-100-art-appreciation/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.