General Vocabulary Flashcards
abstract art
art in which the subject matter has been simplified or distorted to the point that it may no longer be discerned
Abstract Expressionism
an art movement that was the product of Expressionism in which artists used a spontaneous method for creating their art: Hans Hoffman, Jackson Pollock, David Smith, Franz Kline
acetate
sheets of thin clear plastic used to cover art
actual textures
textures that can be felt when touched
additive
with light, the process of mixing colors
aerial drawings
plans for the placement of a building in a landscape as one looks down at it
aesthetics
an area of study aimed at understanding the nature of art, why it is made, what forms it takes, and how people respond to it
aesthetic value
the impact a work of art on our senses, intellect, and emotions
the impact a work of art on our senses, intellect, and emotions
the impact a work of art on our senses, intellect, and emotions
album quilt
fabric bedcovering of individually designed stitched squares forming an overall pattern
American Abstractionism
an art movement characterized by the artist reducing the subject matter to its main features: John Martin, Stuart davis, Mark Toby
anthropomorphism
attributing human characteristics, movements, and behaviors to animals
aquatint
printmaking process that involves etching and permits broard areas of black and grey tones
armature
a supporting structure, usually made of iron or wood that eventually gets covered with the modeling medium
art
the expression of ideas, feelings, and values in visual form
Art Brut
an art movement that shunned all works made by professional artist and embraced the art of children, developmentally handicapped, and untrained artists
Ash Can School
a group of American artists who used images of the American city-slums, alleys, night spots- as their subject matter: John Sloan, George Bellows, Edward Hopper
assemblage
bond together shapes or objects by gluing, sodering, pasting, or nailing
atmospheric perspective
a sense of spacial depth in a painting giving the illusionn of distance
avant-garde
original and experimental art
balance
the equal and unequal distribution or arrangement of the elements within a work of art
baren
round, smooth, flat pad used in printmaking
barrell vault
a series of arches joined together to enclose a space, as in a tunnel
books of hours
calander-like books depicting labors and events associated with each month of the year
burnished
highly polished in certain areas
bustle
a framework or padding worn by women to puff out a skirt
buttress
a large support built against a wall to counteract the pressure exerted on the wall from the weight of an arch. vault, or roof
cadastres
slabs of clay and papyrus into which land boundaries and fertile areas for crop planting were drawn with a sharp tool
capital
top of a column
caricature
drawing of a person in which cetain features have been distorted to achieve a humorous or satiracl effect
carving
the removal of portions of sculpting material to make a form
casting
the pouring of liquid materials, such as clay, bronze, metal or plaster, into a molded design
ceramics
the process of creating containers, dishware, or decorative and functional objects from clay
chiaroscuro
dramatic contrasts in light and shadow
closure
the process by which the minds eye form lines connecting the points even though no lines actually exist
codex
a folding screen book, up to twenty feet long, made from paper or bark or pounded deer skin
colonades
long rows of very similar columns set equal distant apart
color
what is perceived when waves of light strike the retina of the eye
Color Field Art
a group of artists who expressed visual statements about color: Mark Rothko, Helen Frankenthaler, Frank Stella
contextual criticism
to focus understanding a work of art in relation to personal, social, or historical information that cannot be gathered by observing the art itself
contour drawing
rendering of an objects edges and interior lines through continuous movement of a drawing tool
contour line
lines that show the edge of a shape
Corinithian column
a column that is tall and slim with an ornate capital
Cubism
an art movement in which the subject matter is visually fragmented to reveal multiple viewpoints
Dada
an art movement whose silly name was used to express the artists’ personal attitudes toward art in society
dome
a continuous series of rounded arches with a common center
a continuous series of rounded arches with a common center
doric column
columns with no decoration on the capital
draftsman’s net
a wooden frame with a net of black threads streatched across the opening, and a movable eye piece to help the artist fix a straight line of sight
dynamics
the rhythm and movement in art that expresses great action, energy, and force
earthworks
a work of art that is designed for a particular place, utilizes the environment, and depends on the natural environment for its existence, impact, and meaning
effigy
an image or a representation of a person or part of nature
elevational drawing
architectual drawing that shows the hieght dimensions of a building
embrasures
the low segments of a castle or town wall. They provide large openings from which weaponry can be launched
embroidery
intricate needle work used to decorate fabric
encaustic
an art technique in which hot wax and pigment are applied to canvas with a brush
ephemeral
lasting a short time
etching
the process of engraving a design into metal plates with acid and a pointed tool called a stylus for the purpose of creating a plate for printing
the process of engraving a design into metal plates with acid and a pointed tool called a stylus for the purpose of creating a plate for printing
Expressionism
an art movement with the main goal of expressing deeply felt emotions through art: Max Ernest, Wassily Kandinsky , Franz Marc
Fauves
a French word for “wild beasts” a group of artists around the turn of the 20th century with the main goal of experimenting and shocking the audience
Fauvism
an art movement characterized by the arbitrary use of color
Femmage Art
combination of “Female” and “Collage” used to name an artistic method of creating collages throught the use of traditional sewing and craft techniques, Miriam Schapiro
finial
the decorative top or fancy, uppermost tip of the spire of a structure
fluted columns
columns with a decorative pattern of grooves running from top to bottom
Fluxus Movement
an art movement in which the artists presented live events involving music, literary readings, and spontaneous art, Nam June Piak
flying buttress
and arch projecting over the side isle of a cathedral, which hlelps direct the outward thrust downward, creating the illusion of a floating or unsupported roof
folk art
artistic work by individuals who have not been trained as artists
foreshortening
reducing or distorting shapes to give the illusion of three dimensional space as it is actually seen by the human eye
Formal Academies
a group of learned members who establish very strict rules about what the subject of art may be or how it may be created
forms
three dimensional shapes
frescoes
a style of painting in which tempera is applied to the wet plaster surface of building walls
Futurism
a small group of Italian artists whose art is the marriage of the qualities of modern technology with the expressive images of art, Umberto Boccioni,
gesso
a white chalky paint used on bare canvas as a foundation
gesture drawings
loose, quick renderings of a person, animal or object that captures the act f moving
Gothic
a term referring to Goths, a fearsome Germanic people who destroyed a great deal of classical art during the 400’s, also used to describe the architecture of the 1400 and 1500’s
Gothic arch
a pointed arch
gouache
an opaque paint used with watercolor techniques
Graffiti Art
art that consists of images and words applied to subway walls and trains, buildings, and public fixtures
griot
a storyteller
groined vault
a Roman structure formed by intersecting two barrel vaults at right angles
Harlem Renaissance
art movement that illustrated the African American themes about life, Palmer Hayden, Jacob Lawrence, Horace Pippin
high relief
sculptural forms in a relief sculpture that protrude significantly
iconography
the interpretation of an artifact or work of art through studying its subject matter, theme, and symbols
icons
the signs of a particular culture found in its artifacts and works of art
illuminated manuscripts
richly illustrated books
implied forms
forms that give the illusion of being three dimensional but are represented on a flat, two dimensional surface
implied lines
lines that are recognized by the brain and eye but are not really present
Installation Art
a work of art that is built temporarily or permanently into a museum or gallery space, Lucas Samaras, Sandy Skoglund
invented texture
texture made up by the artist usiing lines and shapes in patterns
ionic column
column with a short, fluted shafts and scoll like decorations on the capital
itinerant artist
an artist who travels from place to place making a living by fulfilling commisions to make art
jali
a type of Indian carving, literally means “net” but compares much better with the delicacy of lace
Kabuki
a form of theater that developed in Japan during the 17th century in which both male and female roles were played by men and stories were told through pantomime, dance, and song
kachina
a representation of the spirit of an earthly object in the Hopi religious system
kachina-manas
female kachinas
keystone
a wedge shaped piece of stone at the top of an arch that locks all of the others stones inn place
Kinetic Art
a type of structure that moves, George Warren Rickey, Len Lye
life studies
drawings of objects in their environment
Light Art
art using electric light to create special visual effects, Dan Flavin
line
a moving point on the surface of a canvas, paper, slab of clay, or metal printing plate that forms shapes, gives direction, and creates rhythm and movement within a work
lintel
a horizontal beam that lays across two posts with the function of supporting the load placed upon it; also called a beam, rafter, girder
low relief
sculptural forms in a relief sculpture that protrude only a little
mastaba
rectangular burial mound with sloping sides
media
materials such as paint, clay, wood, metal, drawing tools, fibers
medical illustrator
artists who produce renderings of the external and internal parts of humans and animals
merlons
the high segments of a castle of town wall that contained an arrow loop from which arrows could be shot
method
the way in which the artist uses the media
Mexican Muralist Art
a group of Mexican artists who painted images of Mexican people, revolution and oppression, native traditions, industrialization and hope for the people of Mexico, Diego Rivera
minaret
a tower with projecting balconies from which Islamic faithful can be called to prayer
Minimal Art
a 20th century art movement that sought to present ideas in the simplest forms possible
modeling
the shaping of a sculpture
Modernism
art and ideas that stress individuality, originality, and universal meaning, and “art for arts sake”
Mogul
the dynasty that flourished India from the mid 1500 to early 1700’s marked by an interest in architecture, and poetry
monochromatic
the use of only one color and its different values
monoprint
a process in which only one image can be lifted from a flat printing plate such as plastic or linoleum
Mudras
hand gestures with specific meaning in Buddhism
mural
a work of art in large scale painted or attached to a wall of ceiling
naturalistic style
an artistic style that attempts to make a work of art as lifelike and true to nature as possible
negative space
the unused area between, within, and surrounding shapes and forms in an artistic composition
netsuke
tiny, lifelike, ivory sculptures tied to the cord of a kimono
nib
the point of a marker or pen
one point perspective
a work in which the artist has used only one vanishing point
Op Art
an art movement whose artists were interested in how the careful arranement of lines, colors, and geometric shapes produce an optical effect, Victor Vasarely, Bridget Riley
organic shapes
shapes that are irregular, curvilinear, and not measurable
pagoda
a temple of several stories, each story having its own projecting roof
Paleolithic
referring to the second stage of the Stone Age in which people fashioned their tools from stone
panorama
a view of what can be seen from many directions
pantheon
all of the gods of a culture or religion
pastels
sticks of ground pigment
perceive
to be aware of things through the senses, the ability to recognize and understand things we experience in our environment
perspective
a system for representing the illusion of three dimensional space on a flat surface
Photo realism
an art movement in which the artists painted with such precision and detail that their work resembled a photograph of the image, Richard Estes, Chuck Close
photography
the making of fine art, commercial, and educational pictures by capturing the light of an object with a camera
photoscreen
a stencil of an image produced in a printing shop
picture plane
the flat surface on which a work of art is made
pigment
matter that gives color to materials such as paints, dyes, crayons, and inks
pointillism
a painting style that consist of the application of small dots or points of color
Pop Art
an art movement that was the reflecction of the popular culturee, the media, and advertising images, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg
porcelain
a white fine clay used in the production of high quality dishware and decorated objects
positive space
the space taken up by the shapes and forms themselves
post
vertically upright stones or pieces of wood used to support the lintel also called a column
Postimpressionism
the late 19th century French art movement that expanded ideas expressed by the Impressionists, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne
Post Modern Art
artworks and ideas that are rich and diverse in terms of meaning, materials, cultural traditions, and historical references
powwow
a special gathering of Native Americans marked by ceremonial music and dance
primary colors
colors that cannot be made by the artist, blue, yellow, red
prime
to prepare
printmaking
the process of creating one or more images from a single prepared surface
Process Art
art movement in which art would undergo performance or transformation, Hans Haacke
proportion
the relationship in size of one component of a work of art to another
pure painting
an artistic style of abstracting and simplifying images until only color, line and shape remain
ready-mades
functional objects, such as bicycle wheels and hat racks, that the artist proclaimed to be works of art
real forms
3 dimensional forms that actually exist in space like trees, mountains, or buildings
real lines
lines that exist within a work of art
Regionalism
art movement in which artists returned to the realistic representation of subject matter characteristic of the part of the country in which they lived, Grant Wood, John Curry
relief
sculptural forms that protrude from a flat surface
relief sculpture
a type of carving in which the material is removed from only one side of the sculpture, leaving the back of the sculpture flat
reliquaries
ornate receptacles of different sizes and shapes used to hold religious relics
Renaissance
French word meaning “rebirth” applied to the time period that followed the middle ages
representational or realistic drawing
a rendering that looks like the object or image the artist is viewing or imagining using perspective, shading, and modeling techniques
ribbed vault
a skeleton of pointed arches to which light masonry could be applied allowing rectangular area to be covered
rock art
ancient images painted or carved on rock
rock cut temple
temple carved from solid rock, a process more similar to carving a stone sculpture than constructing a building
rose windows
round stained-glass windows with a symmetric design around the center
screen
a fine mesh fabric stretched across a wooden frame for silkscreen printmaking
sculpture
a making of works of art that possess height, width, and depth
scumbling
using the side in a back and forth motion of the tool to create a solid area of shading
secondary color
the result of mixing two primary colors in equal amounts, green, orange, violet
serigraph
a silkscreen print
serpentine
a long, thin shape that curves or coils like the body of a snake
shades
colors to which darker colors or black has been added
shape
a 2-dimensional area defined by a boundary
sikhara
spire found on Indian temples
simulated texture
the recreations of manufactured or natural textures
smudging
using a finger or blending stick to spread the medium on the surface
Social Realists
a group of artists who dealt with themes such as poverty, oppression, and social injustice
Soho
an art movement famous for the short lived art that appeared on walls, windows, and doorways of the public buildings in a 20 block area of New York
spectrum
the colors that make up light
step pyramid
a pyramid that was shaped like several mastabas of diminshing size stacked one on top of the other
stippling
using the point of a drawing tool to make small dots to create an area of dark or light
stone pictures
Japanese art form in which pictures are “discovered” in stones
striations
incised line
style
a characteristic manner of presenting ideas and feeling in a visual form
stylized
an artistic style in which the body parts of the figure have been simplified and reduced to their most basic form, or artistic form in which an object has been changed or abstracted from nature in order to fit the artistic rules and traditions of a culture
subtractive
a type of sculpture in which the artist removes selected portions of the sculpting material to create art
Superrealism
an artistic style with the intent of producing works so realistic that the viewer is unable to distinguish between illusion and reality
Suprematism
an art movement founded by a small group of Russian artists that consisted of making geometric shapes of color that interact subtly with the backgrounds of similar intensities, Kasimir Malevich
Surrealism
an art movement in which the artists combined naturally unrelated events, images, objects, or situations in dreamlike scenes, Salvador Dali
tag
a special signature related to a graffiti artist
tertiary colors
the result of mixing varying amounts of primary and secondary colors
texture
the surface qualities of a particular object or work of art
The Eight
a gathering of 8 artists brought together by Robert Henri who broke with tradition of the European art academics to explore new styles and subjects
3 dimension
having height, width and depth
tints
colors to which a lighter shade or white has been added
tooled leather
leather that has been hand decorated
tooth
slightly rounded surface of paper
totem poles
wooden pole that were carved and painted with symbolic designs and that stood upright in front of native houses
trompe l’oeil
a type of painting that is so realistic that the viewers are not sure whether they are looking at a painting of objects or the objects themselves
tumulus
a mound over a burial site
2 dimensional
having width and height
two point perspective
the use of two vanishing points in a work
ukiyo-e
an art form of the Edo-Tokugawa period of Japan which literally means “pictures of the floating world”
unity
a principle that helps us see the components of a work of art as a whole
value
the amount of lightness or darkness a color possess
vanishing point
point to which all objects seem to recede
vault
an arched structure, usually forming a ceiling or doorway or a combination of arches
vellum
paper made from calfskin that was used for illuminated manuscripts
Venuses
the name given to female images found carved during the Stone Age
wall instillation
a work that has been permanently installed into a wall in a museum, public or private building
warp threads
threads that run vertically in a woven cloth
weaving
th eprocess of making fabric by passing threads over and under each other in a given pattern
weft threads
threads that run horizontally in a woven cloth
whirligigs
wind toys with moving parts that are propelled by the force of the wind
worm’s eye view
the view you would have if you were lying on the ground looking up, object lies above the horizon line
ziggurat
massive tiered temples constructed of mud bricks
