The Art of Art History: A Critical Analogy
Chapter 3: STYLE
Name: Samia Sarfaraz
Roll No. AR 102/2020-21
Course: AR 644 Stylistic Studies in Architecture
Meyer Schapiro: An Excerpt from Style
Schapiro’s essay “style” is speaking about the meaning of style – as a representation of some expression,
appearance or characteristic of some article without its aesthetic influence, as an investigative,
indicative factor between the relationship of style and its culture history.
To the art historian, “style,” is important in determining the date, period, and origin of work, it has a
comprehensive variety, quality and a representation of certain group and its culture, trade and history.
In Schapiro’s view style is a quality which doesn’t belong to any individual artist but to the whole culture
and its values are incorporated in the artwork of that time span. The connection between a style and a
period is evident and if the style elements are found in another period or region are considered
migrated & are associated to its original time period where that certain style has been associated
earlier.
Furthermore, ‘style’ can’t be put into specific logical classification, there are few significant features
which make it easy to categorize the style or element of style, however, similarities & difference in
elements or motifs, form or craftsmanship makes style independent or categorization. Every style of
architecture has key features and components that define that particular style as of Gothic and Islamic
architecture have some common architectural features but Romans or Byzantine have different
features. History of other periods must be read to understand the style of one certain tie period.
In this sense, style is supposed to be a mirror of our society. A style can change and adapt at any time,
and is often exists at the same time as several others, in both a public and international sense. But it is
not limited to just one place or region, and can spread from its origin to the opposite side of the world, if
it is picked up by the right person.
A style is like a language, which can be expressed in various ways it could be delicate or intense
depending on what or how you want to convey your messages. This approach is a belief that makes all
the judgment possible within every framework as it depends on how you want to approach it.
Department of Architecture - NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi
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