The idea that an artist's intent can shape interpretation suggests that interpretation is influenced by:

• A. The artist's intent and contextual factors.
• B. The viewer's mood alone.
• C. The medium used, ignoring context.
• D. The subject matter only.

Answer: (A)

Interpreting art is shaped by what the artist intends and by the surrounding context. When we consider the artist’s aims, symbols, and how choices are arranged to convey a message, we look for deliberate cues the artist built into the work. The broader context—historical moment, culture, social issues, and the audience’s expectations—helps us understand why those cues were chosen and how they would be read by viewers then and now. Relying only on our mood ignores the artist’s purpose and the context; focusing only on medium or subject matter can miss how purpose and environment shift meaning. So interpretation is influenced by the artist’s intent and contextual factors.