Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam 2025 - Free AP History Practice Questions and Study Guide

Mannerist works, such as "Madonna with the Long Neck," are characterized by their distortion and dramatic depictions, which serve to heighten emotional expression. This artistic style emerged in the late Renaissance as artists sought to break away from the balance and harmony typical of earlier periods. In their quest to express complex emotions and reactions, Mannerist artists employed elongated figures, unusual proportions, and bizarre compositions, all of which contribute to a sense of instability and tension in the artwork. The distortions in scale and form not only draw the viewer's attention but also evoke a psychological response, enhancing the emotional impact of the scene.

This focus on emotional expressiveness and dramatic effects is a hallmark of Mannerism and distinguishes it from the clarity and realistic portrayals found in earlier Renaissance art. While there may be elements of geometry or color in Mannerist works, it is the use of distortion and drama that is most emblematic of the style.