Final answer:
The term "format" refers to the size and shape of a two-dimensional picture plane, which is the surface artists use to create their work, often manipulating it to produce various effects of depth and perspective.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "format" refers to the size and shape of a two-dimensional picture plane. The format in art indicates how the picture plane—the conceptual surface or canvas on which an artist works—is structured. In the realm of two-dimensional art, various methods including perspective and depth are utilized to convey the illusion of three-dimensionality on a flat surface, as seen in landscape paintings on wood or panel.
Cubist art, for example, explores the two-dimensional plane but tries to represent subjects from multiple angles, whereas Egyptian art would represent forms and scenes in a flat, two-dimensional manner showing each part of a subject from its most recognizable view.
Artists have long been interested in manipulating the picture plane to create different effects, whether highlighting its flatness or creating a sense of depth.