READING THE IMAGE
Alice G. Guillermo
According to this, art has two interrelated aspects. First, art has its specificity, that the artist can
manipulate features that are unique to a particular medium. Second, historically situated and shaped by
social, economic, and political force. Both aspects are important to be considered to fully understand
and appreciate art.
FOUR PLANES OF ANALYSIS

THE BASIC SEMIOTIC PLANE- is the study of "signs”.
It consists of “signifier" or its
material/physical aspect and its "signified" or non-material aspect as concept and value. The
visual elements and how they are used conveys meaning which form the text of the work. It also
includes the choice of medium and technique that refers to material and style that the artist
exercises free selection. Then, the format of the work which are symbolic representation that
participates in its meaning. Lastly the physical properties and marks of the work such as notations,
traces, and marks.
Semiotic is concerned with everything that can be taken as a sign. The elements of the visual arts
derive their meaning-conveying potential from two large sources: human psychophysical
experiences and the socio-cultural conventions of a particular society and period.

THE ICONIC PLANE OR THE IMAGE ITSELF- is still part of the semiotic approach since it is still
based on the signifier-signified relationship. The only difference is that that material elements of the
work has to do with the particular features, aspects, and qualities of the image. The iconic plane
includes the choice of the subject which may bear social and political implications. Also part of the
iconic plane is the positioning of the figure (frontal, in profile, three-fourths, etc.) that implies its
bearing to the meaning of the work. This is important not only in defining the relationship of subject
and viewer but also in describing pictorial space. also takes into account the relationship of the
figures to one another, whether massed, isolated, or juxtaposed in terms of affinity or contrast. The
style of figuration or the proportion of the body deals with the image itself.
In the basic semiotic plane which deals with the material aspect of the work and in the iconic plane
which deals with the features of the image itself, one can see that as the signifier cannot be
separated from the signified, concrete fact or material data cannot be divorced from value.

THE CONTEXTUAL PLANE- Resituating the work in its context will bring out the full meaning of
the work in terms of its human and social implications. The viewer draws out the dialogic
relationship of art and society. If one does not view the work in relation to its context, but chooses
to confine analysis to the internal structure of the work then he reduces its meaning. the meaning
of a work is a complex that involves concepts, values, emotions, attitudes, atmospheres, sensory
experiences that arise from the three planes. The experience of a work cannot be reduced.
A broad knowledge of history and the economic, political and cultural conditions, past and present,
of a society is called upon in the contextual plane. It shows progress of time.

THE AXIOLOGICAL OR EVALUATIVE PLANE- it has to do with analyzing the values of a work.
The plane of analysis that examines the value of work having a dialogic relationship with public.
The evaluation of a work necessarily includes the analysis and examination of its axiological
content since values are expressed in the work which holds a dialogic relationship with reality.
The style of figuration where subject is taken from visible world; object may be stylized but still
recognizable.