94 THEME
PURSUING AN IDEA
A theme is an overall idea that carries through a work or a series of works. The expression and elaboration of the theme may be the goal of the artist in producing the work. In other cases, themes emerge as the artist pursues other ideas or ambitions. Themes are often supported by motifs, repeated elements that can have both symbolic and structural value. (See Motif on page 116.)
APPROACHES
• Philosophical
The artist pursues a theme to convey an idea. For instance, in The Disasters of War, (see page 133) a series of etchings by Goya (1746–1828), the artist pursues the theme of the senselessness of violence brought about by human conflict. Each image shows an instance of the theme in action or in some way that relates ...
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