by Jurate Macnoriute
Nonverbal communication became an object of great interest of contemporary psychologists, businessmen, various chiefs, and some others having high curiosity in everything interesting. Nonverbal expression is used in figurative arts, and that is why nonverbal language also holds attention of artists.
Old masters applied approaches of nonverbal language consciously about what Leonardo da Vinci wrote in that way: A picture or representation of human figures, ought to be done in such a way as that the spectator may easily recognize, by means of their attitudes, the purpose in their minds. Thus, if you have to represent a man of noble character in the act of speaking, let his gestures be such as naturally accompany good words; and, in the same way, if you wish to depict a man of a brutal nature, give him fierce movements; as with his arms flung out towards the listener, and his head and breast thrust forward beyond his feet, as if following the speaker's hands. Thus it is with a deaf and dumb person who, when he sees two men in conversation--although he is deprived of hearing--can nevertheless understand, from the attitudes and gestures of the speakers, the nature of their discussion. (Leonardo da Vinci. The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci. 593).
Thus in this research I wondered what is nonverbal expression's characterization in various art styles and chose for that epochs passed long ago: ancient Egyptian tomb painting, art of India, Chinese painting, Japanese prints, and some European art styles: Greek vase painting, Roman frescos and mosaics, art of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassicism. Why did I took ancient art, but not contemporary? For a will to no violate of the rights secured by a copyright in way of illustration of thesis.
I have examined mentioned art styles from viewpoints of some most important nonverbal expressions used in contemporary psychology and met in visual arts:
Some aspects of nonverbal expression in Egyptian tomb painting
Some aspects of nonverbal expression in art of the Middle Ages
Some aspects of nonverbal expression in art of the Renaissance
The function of any published dictionary is usage by other people. Thus in the research I am employing some terms described by David B. Givens in his The Nonverbal Dictionary (http://members.aol.com/nonverbal2/diction1.htm): Facial beauty, Posture arm cross, Posture hands on hips, Posture sit, Posture bow, Posture body bend, Posture high stand display, Gesture hand behind head, Gesture head tilt side, Gesture point, Display arm show, Body movement precision grip, Hand position decision grip, Body movement power grip, Body movement intention cue, Tactile sign self touch, Tactile signal touch cue, Equilibrium signal balance cue, Status signal dominance, Submission status, Broadside display swagger-walk, Zygomatic smile, Emotion love, Emotion sadness, Emotion fea, Afferent signal pleasure, Sign pain cue, Sign eye contact, Ready response fight or flight, Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex, Emotion uncertainty, Imitation isopraxism, Reflexive body movement flexion withdrawal, Relationship rapport.
