Art is all around us, whether it’s being used as a medium in art classes or art exhibitions, or just referenced casually. But art isn’t just about painting and sculpture. There are many different types of art out there! What if you want to be able to have conversations with other art enthusiasts who might not share your same background? You need to know some vocabulary so that you can talk the talk too. Here are some terms that will help keep your artistic conversations flowing: abstract, art critic, installation art, Renaissance art, drawing. Now go find an artist online or at an exhibition near you and see what they’re up to!
Abstract art is an art that does not directly represent things or people in nature. For example, an abstract painting might include dots and splotches of paint with no recognizable form. Art critics usually review art for a newspaper or magazine and tell the public what they think about it. Installation art is when an artist creates artwork that is meant for a specific location and can’t be moved. For example, Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin with fabric in 1995 to show how we need to wrap up our environment before we destroy it. Renaissance art is often created by artists who lived during the Renaissance time period which spanned from the 14th to the 17th century.
Some art words may be confusing for people who don’t know much about art. For example, an art critic is a person who reviews art and art history. In order to review art effectively, this person studies art at a college or through other art programs. Another art word that’s important for artists to know is art history. Art history includes art from all around the world, especially art that was created a while ago. A famous art historian named Bernard Berenson saved many Renaissance art works from being destroyed while Nazi soldiers occupied Italy during World War II by moving them to a different location.
Since art can be found everywhere, it’s not always easy to define art. Art can be creative, imaginative, and colorful for people of all ages. However, art is also composed of many art words that help tell the story behind it. Knowing art facts are just one step in understanding art better!
Art is a word used to describe the production of artworks. Artwords are words art critics and art historians use to make art more understandable. Knowing art words is important because artworks are often difficult to interpret. Art critics and art historians developed art words to share their knowledge with the world.
Artwords can be specific to a medium, such as painting or sculpture, or they can be broader like abstraction and surrealism.
A book of art history has plenty of art words that art history students should know. Here are art words from art history that art history
students need to know:
- abstraction
- art movements
- art period/era
- artist’s intention and art interpretation
- art restoration and conservation
- authenticity of artworks/authentic artworks, original artworks, art forgery
- art style
- art vocabulary
- artworks/artwork
- art world and art market
- art movement art periods/eras (impressionism, neoclassicism)
- art history
- artists (famous artists such as Rembrandt and non famous artists such as Amy Sherald )
- art craft
- art technique
- art criticism art critique
- art scholarship
- art market
- art collection
- art commerce
- art auction
- artist’s intention
- artist’s intent
- artwork’s meaning
- interpretation of the artwork
- authenticity believe in something, i.e. authenticity of artwork, authentication of art, art authentication art forgery art fake art hoax art lie
- art world
- art dealer
- art dealer’s gallery
- art gallery
- art gallerist
- gallerists
- avant-garde and avant-garde movement
When you study art, try finding an art word you don’t know. Then use art books to look up art words.
Art is hard, but art words are art of the beautiful thing art words make art more accessible.