Art 101
TEXTURE
When you read a book, you need to know the language in which it was written, the vocabulary and turns of phrase. Art also has a language. The viewer needs a knowledge base from which to begin to “read” artwork. This base is called “the elements of art.” In science, elements combine to form the molecules and compounds that make up the universe and everything in it. In art, elements combine to create paintings, sculptures, et cetera. One of these is texture.
Simply put, texture is how something feels. Not emotionally — although texture can stimulate that — but through touch. Touching artwork is usually frowned upon, especially in art galleries and museums. (Please, don’t do this!) Instead, some artists will try to mimic the visual characteristics of a material as closely as possible so that the viewer’s brain can imagine how the thing feels. This can then stimulate ideas about that object and its meaning. If the painter is replicating silk or satin, for example, he might be trying to communicate ideas about wealth, social status, or taste.
Texture can also be the actual feel of the artwork itself (but, again, do not touch the artwork!). Did the painter use thick gobs of paint applied with heavy brush strokes? Did the sculptor choose to not smooth out his chisel marks on his marble carving? Or is the surface of the work so smooth and polished you can see your reflection? With each of these techniques, the artist is trying to tell the viewer something.
Let’s look at some examples of texture…
Carved from one block of marble, this sculpture depicts the corpse of Jesus Christ covered by a shroud. The lifeless body lies as though it was just taken off the Cross and is waiting for burial. Italian sculptor Sanmartino carved the stone to mimic a transparent fabric with a sheer texture. The shroud covers Christ with respect and sympathy, and its folds bring out the details of His body. The arc of the rib cage, the closed eyes, tilted head, the muscular body, and the wounds seem accentuated through the covering. The veil is so convincing that it makes the work feel real rather than a representation. It seems about ready to flutter in a slight breeze. Veiled Christ becomes less and less a piece of exquisitely carved stone and more like a real person who recently died. It allows the viewer to connect to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in a more personal way.
Dutch painter van Gogh painted with heavy brush strokes that applied thick paint. In Cypresses, van Gogh sculpts the images with paint, giving his work a three-dimensionality. The trees and grasses in the field are layered with color. His brush strokes curve and bend copying the movements in a field on a windy day.
Painting like this is a passionate and energetic process. The viewer can envision van Gogh before his easel, quickly slapping paint onto the canvas, splattering it everywhere. His work is emotional and personal. He wanted the viewer to understand his feelings about this view outside his asylum window.
In early ancient Rome, realistic portraits were desired. The marks and scars of life were valued, especially for this society’s upper class. This specific sculpture is deeply carved with wrinkles to highlight his old age. The man is bald, thin-lipped, and seems to be missing teeth. He has sunken cheeks and deep bags under his eyes. This shows someone who has led a long, full life. In life, this man’s social status allowed him to be a part of the political class. In this work, the cares and responsibilities of his position are literally etched into his face, giving him and his family honor and respect in Rome.
Through the fluffy fur on an aristocrat’s clothing, the lumpy rinds on a piece of fruit, or the highly polished surface of a silver pitcher, texture is a way to show off an artist’s skill. Objects are carefully made to mimic reality and stimulate thoughts. When the artwork itself is textured, the artist’s state-of-mind during the work’s creation may be revealed. However texture is used, ask yourself: Why is this thing so realistic? Why is the paint so thick? What is the artist trying to say? How does this make me feel? The conversation between viewer and viewed has begun.
Lady Bison 