AP Art History : Analyzing Asian 2D art
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Art History
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Asian 2 D Art
Which of the following is NOT a key symbol in Buddhist iconography?
Lotus
The Lion
Trees
The Wheel
Trees
The Lion symbolizes Buddha's royal status. The Wheel denotes Buddha's law. The Lotus is a symbol of Buddha's natural origins. Trees are not a key symbol in the iconographic scheme of Buddhist art.
Example Question #1 : Asian 2 D Art
Fan Kuan's Travellers Among Mountains and Streams exemplifies Northern Song painting in its use of which of the following?
Shading
Ink and color on silk
Composite or multiple perspectives
Hanging scroll format
Varied brushstrokes
Composite or multiple perspectives
Monumental landscapes during the Northern Song dynasty are characterized by their use of three distinct perspectives in the composition: high distance, level distance, and deep distance.
Example Question #1 : Analyzing Asian 2 D Art
White and Red Plum Blossoms, by Ogata Kōrin, is notable among Japanese art for its use of _________________.
gemstones
gold leaf
oil paint
watercolor
gold leaf
Instead of painting in golden hued paint on the screen in his White and Red Plum Blossoms, Ogata Kōrin inlays actual gold leaf onto his work of art, having the gold dominate the work of art. This use of non-paint or ink materials in creating screens was a signature element of the Rinpa school, who also utilized items such as mother of pearl, although gold leaf was by far the most frequent material included in Rinpa school work.
Artwork from Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ogata_Korin_-_RED_AND_WHITE_PLUM_BLOSSOMS_(National_Treasure)_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Example Question #2 : Analyzing Asian 2 D Art
The work shown here is an example of a Japanese _____________.
woodblock print
folding screen
handscroll
hanging scroll
folding screen
Folding screens are a central part of Japanese art due to their use in Japanese domestic architecture as dividers between different spaces. This meant that screens such as White and Red Plum Blossoms by Ogata Kōrin were central decorative objects in houses during the Edo Period of Japanese history. Ogata Kōrin's work was one of the key developments of folding screens as an art form.
Artwork from Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ogata_Korin_-_RED_AND_WHITE_PLUM_BLOSSOMS_(National_Treasure)_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
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