Almost every industry out there has a set of ‘jargon’, or terms that are used by experts in the field to quicken the communication of complicated subjects or to portray meaning. The world of art is no different, developing a dictionary of words and phrases over the years specific to the industry. When you are browsing our online art gallery however, looking to buy original art, these terms can sometimes be confusing and can stop anyone who is new to the world of art from finding the pieces that they love.
Don’t worry, we didn’t know these phrases until we’d spent years in the business either! We believe everybody has the right to appreciate beautiful, original art so we have put together an explanation of some of the most common (but confusing) art terms to help you in your quest for finding original art that is perfect for you!
Abstract: Abstract artwork doesn’t depict realistic scenes, but instead it uses gestural lines, shapes or colour to portray a look or meaning.
Contemporary: As opposed to historic artwork and pieces from the past, contemporary art refers to work that is created in the present day. It is often associated with being ‘avant-garde’, but this is not always the case.
Expressionism: Neither abstract nor realistic, expressionist art distorts reality but in a way as to express the artists mood, emotion or thoughts.
Figurative: Spawned as a reaction to the birth of the Abstract art scene, figurative art refers to work that strongly depicts scenes from the real world, with particular focus on the human body.
Impressionism: Impressionist work is typically rather unrefined by its nature, as this phrase refers to art that is created ‘on the spot’ as opposed to being carefully planned out and created in a studio environment. Because of its origins, many impressionist pieces are of landscapes or every day life scenes.
Modernism: As the name suggests, modernism work strives to be the complete opposite of works created in the past, rejecting any traditional rules or ways of working. It champions innovation and many modernist artist use unusual techniques and methods to achieve their ‘anti conventional’ pieces.
Realism: Realism refers to paintings or drawings that depict scenes from real life, often used when describing pieces that are created with high accuracy, to almost look like a photograph.
Traditional: The opposite of modernism, traditional artist create paintings for sale that do not push boundaries, but instead show their excellence in their beauty and handiwork.
Has this helped you get to grips with some of the terms seen on our online art gallery? Do you want us to explain more art terms? Get in touch!
