Visual Art Terms: A
Aboriginal Art
Abstract Art: artwork that does not seek to render an accurate representation of a visual reality. Instead the artists seeks to expose a deeper meaning by using color and texture to express themselves. Classic abstraction breaks down something in the physical world while non-objective art represents only the artists emotions or vision but is not abstracted from or represent anything physical. Several art movements are considered part of or related to the broader abstract genre including: Pointillism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, among many others. Go Deeper: Abstract Art on FATHOM.
Abstract Expressionism: Art movement that arose in the US in the 1940’s. The works represent a wide spectrum of styles but all emphasis spontaneous personal expression in abstract or nonrepresentational compositions, often completed on large scale canvas.
Abstract Photography: A style of photography that emphasizes form, shape, line, texture, and color over recognizable subject matter. Abstract photographs often use close-up or macro techniques to capture the details of everyday objects in a way that transforms them into something more abstract and visually intriguing.
Academic Art: A style of art that emphasizes traditional techniques, methods, and subjects. It is often associated with art schools and academies, and is characterized by its emphasis on realism, technical skill, and adherence to established artistic conventions. Academic art was particularly popular in the 19th century, but has since been replaced by more experimental and avant-garde styles.
Achromatic: a term used to describe colors without hue or saturation, such as black, white, and gray.
Action Painting
Acrylic Paint: a type of paint that uses a synthetic polymer as a binder, which allows it to dry quickly and form a water-resistant layer.
Actionism: A performance art movement that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s in Austria and Germany. It is characterized by its use of aggressive and often violent actions, such as self-mutilation, in order to shock and provoke the audience. Actionists sought to challenge traditional ideas about art and the role of the artist by creating intense, visceral experiences that often blurred the line between art and life.
Activist art: A form of art that is created with the intention of promoting social or political change. Activist artists use their work to draw attention to issues such as inequality, injustice, and oppression, and to inspire viewers to take action to address these issues.
Actuality: term used to describe the objective reality of the world, as opposed to an interpretation or representation of it.
Additive Color Mix: a method of creating colors by adding light of different wavelengths, such as the colors used in digital displays or stage lighting.
Aerial Perspective: A technique used in art to create the illusion of depth and distance by using color and tone to suggest the effects of atmospheric haze. Objects that are farther away from the viewer appear less distinct and are often given a bluish or grayish tint to suggest the presence of atmospheric moisture.
Aerial Photograp: A photograph taken from above, typically from an airplane or drone. Aerial photographs can be used to create detailed maps, to document land use patterns, or to capture the unique perspectives and patterns of the natural world.
Aesthetic: The qualities of beauty and visual appeal that are inherent in a work of art. Aesthetic can also refer to a particular style or school of art that values beauty, harmony, and balance.
Aesthetic Movement: A 19th-century art movement that emphasized beauty, simplicity, and a rejection of the ornate and overly decorative styles that were popular at the time. Aesthetic artists sought to create works of art that were harmonious and balanced, and that emphasized the intrinsic beauty of the materials used
After: A work of art that is created in the style of a particular artist or period, but is not an original work by that artist. The term is also used to describe a reproduction of an original painting.
After Image: A visual phenomenon in which an image persists in the visual field even after the original stimulus has been removed. Afterimages can be used in art to create optical illusions or to suggest movement or motion.
Afrofuturism: an artistic and cultural movement that combines elements of African and African-American culture with science fiction and futurism. Afrofuturist artists use their work to explore issues of identity, technology, and the future, and to challenge traditional ideas about race and culture.
Airbrush: A tool used in painting and graphic design to create a smooth, even layer of paint or ink. Airbrushes use compressed air to spray paint onto a surface, allowing for precise control and the creation of subtle gradations of color and tone.
Albumen Print: A type of photographic print that was popular in the 19th century. Albumen prints are made using egg whites as a binder for the photographic chemicals, and are known for their rich, warm tonal range.
Alla Prima: A painting technique in which the artist applies wet paint to a canvas in a single sitting, without allowing the paint to dry in between layers. This technique is often used to create loose, expressive paintings with a sense of spontaneity and immediacy.
All-Over Space: A compositional technique in which the entire surface of a work of art is covered with elements such as color, texture, or pattern. This technique is often used in abstract art to create a sense of visual unity and balance.
Applied Art: Art that is created for a specific functional purpose, such as furniture, ceramics, or textiles. Applied art can be both beautiful and functional, and is often created using traditional techniques and materials.
Analogous Color: Colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel, such as red, orange, and yellow. Analogous color schemes are often used in art and design to create a sense of harmony and balance
Angular: A style of art that emphasizes sharp, geometric shapes and lines. Angular art can be found in many different media, including painting, sculpture, and graphic design.
Antiquity: Refers to the period of ancient history, particularly the civilizations of Greece and Rome. Antiquity has had a profound influence on Western art and culture, and many artists have drawn inspiration from the art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome.
Aperture: The opening in a camera lens that controls the amount of light that enters the camera. The size of the aperture can be adjusted to create different effects in a photograph, such as a shallow depth of field or a wide depth of field.
Applied Art
Appropriation: A technique used in art in which an artist takes pre-existing images, objects, or texts and incorporates them into a new work of art. Appropriation can be used to create new meanings and associations, or to challenge traditional ideas about authorship and originality.
Aquatint: A printmaking technique that involves the use of acid to etch a metal plate. The plate is then inked and pressed onto paper, creating a print with a rich, tonal range and delicate, velvety texture.
Arabesque: A decorative pattern or design that is characterized by flowing, curving lines and intricate details. Arabesques can be found in many different forms of art, including painting, sculpture, and architecture.
Architecture
Art Deco
Artifice
Artist Proof
Arts and Crafts movement
Aspect Ratio: the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image or screen.
Assemblage
Asymmetrical: a style of composition that does not have a symmetrical balance, often using uneven or irregular shapes and forms.
Atelier Populaire
Automatism
Autochrome: a type of early color photography that used a mosaic of tiny dyed potato starch grains to create a color image.
Avant-garde: term used to describe artists or art movements that are innovative, experimental, and often ahead of their time, pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms and conventions.