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In art andiconography, amotif (/moʊˈtiːf/ ⓘ) is an element of animage. Motifs can occur both in figurative and narrative art, and in ornament and geometrical art. A motif may be repeated in apattern or design, often many times, or may just occur once in a work.[1]
A motif may be an element in the iconography of a particular subject or type of subject that is seen in other works, or may form the main subject, as theMaster of Animals motif in ancient art typically does. The related motif ofconfronted animals is often seen alone, but may also be repeated, for example inByzantine silk and in other ancient textiles. Where the main subject of an artistic work - such as a painting - is a specific person, group, or moment in a narrative, that should be referred to as the "subject" of the work, not a motif, though the same thing may be a "motif" when part of another subject, or part of a work ofdecorative art - such as a painting on a vase.
Ornamental ordecorative art can usually be analysed into a number of different elements, which can be called motifs. These may often, as intextile art, be repeated many times in a pattern. Important examples inWestern art includeacanthus,egg and dart,[2] and various types ofscrollwork.
Geometric, typically repeated:Meander,palmette,rosette,gul in Oriental rugs,acanthus,egg and dart,Bead and reel,Pakudos,Swastika,Adinkra symbols.
Figurative:Master of Animals,confronted animals,velificatio,Death and the Maiden,Three hares,Sheela na gig,puer mingens. In theNativity of Jesus in art, the detail of showingSaint Joseph as asleep, which was common in medieval depictions, can be regarded as a "motif".
Many designs inIslamic culture are motifs, including those of the sun, moon, animals such as horses and lions, flowers, and landscapes. Inkilim flatwoven carpets,motifs such as the hands-on-hipselibelinde are woven in to the design to express the hopes and concerns of the weavers: the elibelinde symbolises the female principle andfertility, including the desire for children.[3]
Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs are a familiar type of motif in the eastern portions of the United States. Their circular and symmetric design, and their use of brightly colored patterns from nature, such as stars, compass roses, doves, hearts, tulips, leaves, and feathers have made them quite popular.[citation needed]
The idea of a motif has become used more broadly in discussingliterature and other narrative arts foran element in the story that represents atheme.[4][5]
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Media related toVisual motifs at Wikimedia Commons