Painting and Sculpture Flashcards
- abstract adj.
Not concrete and realistic; not obviously related to everyday
experience
Abstract painting became popular partly because early photography was very realistic.
Parts of speech abstraction n
- context n.
A larger environment that something fits into
In the context of Soviet Russia, public art had to be about the triumph of communism and its leaders.
Usage tips The preposition in often comes before context, and an of phrase often comes after it.
Parts of speech
contextualize v, contextual adj
- depict v.
To show in pictures
Michelangelo’s painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel depicts nine scenes from the Bible.
Parts of speech depiction n
- dimension n.
A direction or surface along which something can be
measured; an aspect
The three dimensions of physical objects are length, width, and depth.
One dimension of the problem is their long history of competition.
Parts of speech dimensional adj
- esthetically adv
In a way that relates to beauty or appearance
The outside of the office building is esthetically pleasing, but the inside is dark and unpleasant.
Usage tips Esthetically is often spelled with an “a” at the beginning: aesthetically.
Parts of speech esthetic n, esthete n, esthetic adj
- intrinsic adj
Being part of the basic nature of something
Frequent elections are intrinsic to a democratic system.
Parts of speech intrinsically adv
- perspective n
A way of seeing from a particular location; a way of thinking about something
From my perspective, the entire town can be seen through a set of
large windows.
They held different perspectives on how to care for their aging
parents.
- portrayal n.
A description or drawing that reflects a certain point of view
Most portrayals of Abraham Lincoln emphasize his sense of humor and his honesty.
Usage tips Portrayal is often followed by an of phrase to indicate what is being described.
Parts of speech portray v
- realism n.
A technique that tries to picture something as it really looks
Realism was popular among seventeenth-century Flemish painters like Rembrandt van Rijn.
Parts of speech realist n, realistic adj
- spectrum n.
A range of different things, usually colors
Bart’s colorful designs include every color of the spectrum, from
deep blue to vibrant red.
Usage tips The phrase the spectrum frequently means “the colors
that the human eye can see.”
