Visual Art Terms: H
Hatching: A technique used in drawing and printmaking in which parallel lines are used to create shading and texture. The lines can be closely spaced or widely spaced, and the direction of the lines can be varied to create different effects.
Happening: An art form that emerged in the 1960s and involved spontaneous, often improvised performances that combined elements of theater, music, and visual art. Happenings often took place in public spaces and involved audience participation.
Hard Edge Painting: A style of painting that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s and emphasized the use of geometric shapes and crisp, hard-edged lines. Hard Edge painters often used bright, contrasting colors and worked with large, flat areas of color.
Hardboard: A type of board made from compressed wood fibers that is often used as a support for painting.
Harlem Renaissance: A cultural movement that took place in Harlem, New York in the 1920s and 1930s. The Harlem Renaissance was a time of great creativity and intellectual activity, and it produced some of the most important works of African American art, literature, and music.
High Art: A term used to describe art that is considered to be of high cultural value and is often associated with elite or intellectual audiences. High art is often contrasted with popular or commercial art.
Heidelberg School: An Australian art movement that emerged in the late 19th century and was known for its depictions of the Australian landscape. Heidelberg School artists often worked en plein air and used bright, impressionistic colors to capture the light and atmosphere of the Australian bush.
Hieroglyphics: A system of writing that uses pictures or symbols to represent words or ideas. Hieroglyphics were used by the ancient Egyptians and were often incorporated into their art and architecture.
History Painting: A genre of painting that depicts scenes from history, mythology, or literature. History paintings were often large in scale and were considered to be the most important and prestigious type of art in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Horizon Line: An imaginary line in a painting or drawing that represents the viewer's eye level and separates the sky from the ground. The horizon line is an important element in creating the illusion of depth and perspective.
Hudson River School: An American art movement that emerged in the mid-19th century and was known for its depictions of the American landscape. Hudson River School artists often used a detailed, realistic style to capture the grandeur and beauty of the American wilderness.
Hue: A term used to describe the basic color of an object, such as red, blue, or yellow. Hue is one of the three primary attributes of color, along with saturation and value.
Hyper-Realism: A style of art that emphasizes the realistic and detailed depiction of objects or scenes. Hyper-realistic artists often work with photographic sources and use techniques such as airbrushing to create a highly detailed, almost photographic quality in their work.