Everyone who works in the art field knows they don’t have to say anything when describing their work. However, it’s essential to have a glossary of terms that can be used to refer to any piece of art. This is why we’ve created this handy resource, which will help you at the museum or watch a documentary about art.
These terms are essential for art historians and lovers to know – if they want to up their game. With that in mind, here are some of the most common terms to understand and memorize.
Abstraction
Non-representational or abstract art is a type of art that uses various techniques to remove visual forms from the “real world.” During the early 20th century, artists such as Jackson Pollock created a new language for expressing themselves. This new form of art has a variety of uses, such as color, texture, scale, and gesture.
Asymmetrical
The concept of balanced elements refers to the use of unequal parts. For instance, a picture might have two baseballs on one side and a beach ball on the other.
Baroque
This term describes a style of architecture and art developed during Europe’s 17th and 18th centuries. Dramatic, complex forms and elaborate ornamentation often characterized it.
Bauhaus
The design and art school known as the Bauhaus was founded in 1919 by Walter Gropius. It brought together various prominent individuals such as architects, artists, and designers. Its subsequent iterations in Berlin, Weimar, and Dessau were instrumental in sparking discourse about the role of design and art in society.
Brushwork
Viewing a painting, you’re likely looking at an object made using a brush. Throughout history, artists have developed various techniques to handle and apply paint. These include the use of scumbling, stippling, and dragging. The strokes’ size, shape, and texture are also important factors that are considered when it comes to art.
Chiaroscuro
An Italian term that means light-dark is usually used when there’s a strong contrast between the dark and the light in a drawing or painting. Usually, artists utilize chiaroscuro to create a more dimensional and dramatic effect. Although photography can also be described as chiaroscuro, this term is mainly associated with works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Caravaggio.
Composition
The way an artwork’s elements are arranged is often referred to as composition. Various strategies for arranging these elements have been used for hundreds of years.
Impressionism
During the 19th century, artists under the banner of Impressionism used small brushstrokes to create realistic and vibrant paintings. They sought to capture the essence of light and its variable nature.
Perspective
One of the most common techniques artists use to create two-dimensional forms is linear perspective. This perspective allows them to create an illusion of space by receding parallel lines. On the other hand, atmospheric perspective involves changing the detail level used to draw or paint an object.
Proportion
The relationship between an element and its size is also essential when creating a more realistic work of art. Having the necessary proportions is required to make an artwork more realistic. By playing with varying proportions, artists can easily stray away from their traditional approach to realism.