Sense, Subject, and the Meaning
As a visual means of communication, art appeals to the senses as well as the intellect. This is one of the main differences between visual art and poetry: in literary works the material aspect is irrelevant, and the value of a text remains the same in a deluxe edition or a paperback. On the contrary, in visual art, the " meaning" is communicated through what is visually perceived.
Task I. Find the given word combinations in the text and translate them into Russian: ü visual arts; ü to be potentially accessible to somebody; ü a religious significance; ü prehistoric; ü geometric motifs; ü a universal desire; ü to surround oneself with; ü means of communication; ü to imply something; ü harmonious; ü complementary; ü identity; ü frequently; ü for public display; ü a hallmark of the sponsor; ü to be evident; ü symbolic references; ü a code of colors; ü partially reconstructed; ü correct interpretation; ü a layer of interwoven meanings; ü to appeal to senses and intellect; ü visually perceived.
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The relationship between the artist, the public, the market, and the critics brings us back to the concept of communication. A work of art, like a work of poetry or prose, or like any complex message, can be read in many different ways. There is no “single” correct interpretation, but layer upon layer of interwoven meanings, when combined, enhances one another. The art historian’s task is to reconstruct, analyze, and study the material and the historic, social, biographical, and cultural circumstances that led to the creation of the work.
