Mon Prof Augmenté
From copy to distortion in art
Age 18 · Art
Mimesis means imitating reality in art, but artists can follow the real world closely or move away from it on purpose. The further a work departs from what we see, the more it can express a feeling or an idea instead of just a likeness.
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In the picture
- The real pear: the model that every version refers to
- The lifelike sculpture: faithful resemblance to the real object
- The simplified sculpture: only the essential shape is kept
- The distorted sculpture: stretching the real form to express something
Examples
- A photorealistic portrait painting that looks like a photo of the person
- A figure by Giacometti, stretched and thin to express loneliness
Key takeaways
- Mimesis is the imitation of reality, and it comes in degrees.
- Distorting the real can be a choice to express meaning, not a mistake.
Quiz: From copy to distortion in art (Age 18)
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What does mimesis mean in art?
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A sculptor keeps only the essential shape of a real object and leaves out the details. What does this show about mimesis?
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Why might an artist deliberately stretch or distort a real form?
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