Narrative art is art that tells a story.
Understanding Narrative Art
At its core, narrative art is defined by its purpose: to convey a story through visual means. Just as a written narrative unfolds events over time, narrative art captures moments or sequences that suggest a broader storyline to the viewer.
Key Aspects
Based on the provided information, here are some key characteristics of narrative art:
- Definition: It is fundamentally art that serves to tell a story.
- Historical Context: A significant portion of Western art created prior to the twentieth century was narrative in nature.
- Subject Matter: This art frequently depicted stories drawn from various sources, including:
- Religion
- Myth and legend
- History
- Literature
(See also: History painting)
- Audience Assumption: Historically, audiences viewing this art were generally expected to be familiar with the stories being told, enabling them to understand the narrative depicted.
In essence, narrative art acts as a visual medium for storytelling, relying on recognizable subjects and often assuming a shared cultural knowledge with its intended audience.