CLEP Humanities : Understanding Terminology That Describes Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century 2D Visual Art

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for CLEP Humanities

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understanding Terminology That Describes 2 D Visual Art

An artwork described as "pastoral" indicates that its subject matter is __________.

Possible Answers:

historical

religious

classical

urban life

rural life

Correct answer:

rural life

Explanation:

"Pastoral," derived from the same root as "pasture," typically indicates something having to do with shepherds or other kinds of livestock keepers. In art, a "pastoral" piece depicts figures in rural life in some form, even if not necessarily a scene of herding. After the Industrial Revolution, such paintings were made to evoke a country life that was seen as gone.

Example Question #2 : Understanding Terminology That Describes 2 D Visual Art

When describing how an artist arranges elements in a drawing or painting, one is referring to the work's _________________.

Possible Answers:

Medium

Composition

Study

Collage

Matte

Correct answer:

Composition

Explanation:

A study is done before a work is finished, and does not refer to how elements are put together in a work. Matte refers to a non-glassy surface or finish. A collage may incorporate different style or mediums (the material the artist works with), but does not refer to how these are arranged. Composition describes how the elements come together to create the work.

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