nervous touch

Question

The sculpture has a nervous touch.nervous touch meansan impression of anxiety Or a vivid impression ?

Ilas · Accepted Answer

Can you post that picture of the sculpture with nervous touch? I wanna see <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>. I think it's probably a play of words. There is no concrete definition to how you interpret an art piece. There is no right or wrong. You can translate the meaning as how you feel it.

Kuna · Answer

Thank you! I see. Here is a link to see the image. I don't find any negative feeling, so I may translate as "vivid impression." Let me know how you think.

Anonymous · Answer

I can't see the image you linked to.  Without context, I would interpret this to mean that the sculpture appears to have been done by a sculptor with a nervous disposition, which shows up in his work.  That is, when you look at the work, you don't get a feeling of serenity, peace, stolidity, etc.  Rather, feelings of restlessness, instability, disarray, etc.

GPY · Answer

When I first read the description, I thought that "nervous touch" was referring to the nervousness of the sculptor's hand as he or she created the piece. Now I've seen the picture I feel unsure. I agree with Ilas that this is more a "feeling" thing than a case of clear right and wrong. However, for me "vivid impression" does not capture the feeling of the English.

Edit: When I wrote my reply, Anon's post was not yet visible; while I agree that Anon's interpretation of the English is very plausible, I personally do not see any restlessness or nervousness in the sculpture. To me the subject appears calm and serene. I guess it comes back to the interpretation being a personal thing.

Kuna · Answer

Thank you for your advice. I agree with you that the artwork does not have negative impression, and actually seems peaceful.
I checked up E-J dictionaries. and found some another meanings for "nervous," such as "vivid expression (of artwork)" or "strong or bold impression (of writings)". Are these meanings do not exist in current general English?

Ilas · Answer

"With a playful and nervous touch, he creates charming and varying surfaces that attract and hold one's attention like a beautiful embroidery" quote from "The history and ideals of American Art"

I agree with your translation of "nervous touch" as "vivid and bold"

As to the art piece in the photo, I have my interpretation. It's a statue of a woman, a grown woman. The face looks calm , rather solemn, but not peaceful. Look at the body. It is not smooth. Rather wavy, edgy, rough and distorted. And the green spot on the statue. I am not sure whether it is the artist's deliberation or some sort of natural reaction. In a nut shell, I see a solemn woman made wise by shattering experiences. Like the mother earth- sombre and digified despite human exploitation.

, well this is what I feel about the sculpture. May or may not be same as the artist's intention. For me, I would read the artist's biography, his disposition, the surrounding and mental state he was in when creating the sculpture. That would give me a wild guess on what was on the artist's mind and what inspired him. Or simply read the cataloge

GPY · Answer

kunaI checked up E-J dictionaries. and found some another meanings for "nervous," such as "vivid expression (of artwork)" or "strong or bold impression (of writings)". Are these meanings do not exist in current general English?

Hmm, OK, I don't know those meanings.

CalifJim · Answer

kunaHere is a link to see the image.

It looks to me like the sculpture was put together "with a nervous touch". All those many bits of rough surfaces may have been hastily assembled into the overall form by someone working quickly (nervously). I would have called the surface "busy", i.e., consisting of many elements suggesting motion (and thus the opposite of calm or smooth), another term used in describing art works. Part of the interest of the work is that the pose itself is calm. Hence, there is an interesting interplay of opposing impressions.

CJ

Kuna · Answer

Thank you everyone! I really appreciate it!!!

nervous touch

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