NCEA Level 2 Art History cheat sheet

Art History: Content, Context, and Visual Analysis

• Visual analysis moves from formal elements (line, shape, colour, tone, texture, space, form) to their effects: how they direct the eye, create balance or tension, and shape meaning.

• Compositional terms: focal point, leading line, rule of thirds, symmetry and asymmetry, figure-ground relationship, and depth cues such as overlapping, scale, and atmospheric perspective.

• Describing style uses recognisable traits: realism versus idealisation, naturalism versus abstraction, expressive versus restrained brushwork, and emphasis on surface pattern versus illusionistic depth.

• Iconography is the study of subject matter and symbols; iconology interprets those symbols within their cultural and historical context.

• Contextual evidence includes patronage, commissioning purpose, location and function, audience, available materials and technology, and the artist's social position.

• A sustained argument answers the question directly, is supported by specific visual evidence from named works, and acknowledges counter-interpretations where relevant.

• Comparing works requires identifying both similarities and differences, then explaining why those differences matter rather than merely listing them.

• First-hand evidence (gallery visits, site visits, close looking) strengthens responses when linked to specific observed details rather than general impressions.