Visual Communication Exam 1

An ideograph is a symbol that represents an idea or concept, but understanding its specific meaning often requires knowing the context in which it is used. For example, the longhorn sign may represent the annual cattle run in the stockyards, showcasing how the context is essential for interpreting ideographs.

The Pech-Merle Cave painting depicts spotted horses and handprints, with the hands serving as putting your mark on something. The paint has been blown through a bone to create the stencil quality of the hands.

The correct answer is a statuette of a woman known as Venus of Willendorf, dating back to 22000-20000 BC in Austria. The figure is associated with fertility rituals, is handheld, 4 inches tall, painted with a reddish color, and has a less finished back as it was intended to be held.

The Rosetta Stone played a crucial role in understanding hieroglyphics due to the inclusion of carved hieroglyphics, demotic script, and Greek text, allowing scholars to finally decipher the ancient Egyptian writing system.

A stele is a vertically oriented chunk of rock that is inscribed and has a public character, often used as a mileage marker. In ancient times, very few people could read these inscriptions.

Cuneiform is a form of picture writing that was developed around 3400 BC. It is not related to musical instruments, Greek pottery, or Japanese calligraphy.

Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts existed from the 5th century to the 15th century, during this period it included art from the monasteries in northern England and was mainly used for spreading the Christian word through books that were hand-done on parchment or vellum.

The image depicts St. Matthew from the Book of Durrow, a Celtic manuscript known for its interlacing border and flat form figures. It is not related to 'The Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci, 'David and Goliath' by Michelangelo, or 'Creation of Adam' by Michelangelo.

The correct answer is St. Matthew from the Book of Durrow. The interlacing border and flat form of the figure are typical of Celtic manuscripts, distinct from the other artworks mentioned.

The correct answer is Christ on the cover because the binding of the Gospels manuscript showcases the importance of the book by depicting Christ, indicating its religious significance.

The Cross-carpet and incipit pages from St. John's Gospel in the Lindisfarne Gospels do not contain depictions of historical battles and rulers, detailed maps, or recipes for medicinal remedies. Instead, they include scribes working towards originality in copies, a colophon from the 10th century, later clergy annotations in the margins, and the incipit page marking the beginning of the book of John.

The correct answer is Irish/Insular half-uncial, which was a distinct script used in the Lindisfarne Gospels. Roman script, Gothic script, and Celtic script are different styles of calligraphy.

The picture depicts the beginning of Ezekiel in the Worms Bible from Germany in 1150, in a historiated initial form. It shows the standing figure of Ezekiel and contains lacertines and an interweaving of letterforms and naturalistic form. The scroll in the picture expresses information from the figure, similar to a thought bubble.

The painting in question specifically portrays scenes from the Creation and Fall of Humanity according to the Moutier-Grandval Bible from 840. It does not depict a landscape during autumn, a battle scene from the American Civil War, or a portrait of a famous historical figure.

The correct answer is Hours of Joanna of Castile, Bruges, 1490-1500. This painting is a famous illuminated manuscript from the late 15th century.

The correct answer provides specific details about The Diamond Sutra, including the origin, date, the use of paper for printing, reading direction, and printing precedence compared to the west. The incorrect answers contain false information regarding the designer, location, materials used for printing, reading direction, and historical context of the creation of The Diamond Sutra.

The Buxheim St. Christopher image is significant as it predates the printing press and is hand-colored. It is also carved from a single block of wood and shows St. Christopher carrying the Christ child. The design had to be done in reverse due to the woodcut technique. Additionally, it is believed to be used for souvenir purposes or meditative imagery in books.