Art Glossary

Épreuve d'Artist refers to the artist's proofs in a limited edition of prints. These are a small number of prints reserved by the artist for personal use and are typically marked with the (...) read more

Etching is a technique where a design is created on a metal surface by using a strong acid or mordant to eat away the unprotected parts of the metal, leaving the desired pattern in relief (intaglio). (...) read more

Etching and aquatint are printmaking techniques. In aquatint, the printing plate is etched with a pattern of tiny pits and cracks to create a wide range of tonal gradations. This technique allows (...) read more

Found objects (or objet trouvé in French) are everyday items that an artist finds and incorporates into a work of art. While collectors have displayed aesthetically pleasing objects for centuries, (...) read more

A foundry is a place where metal is melted and shaped to create sculptures. Artists bring their completed wax sculptures to the foundry, where molds are made in the same shape. The foundry then uses (...) read more

A silver gelatin print is a type of photographic print made using the silver process. In this process, photographic materials such as black and white films and printing papers are coated with a (...) read more

Giclée printing is a digital technique for reproducing artwork using a high-resolution digital file and an inkjet printer with archival-quality inks. This process produces prints with exceptional (...) read more

Glass is a transparent solid that varies in composition depending on the type. Artists use different types of glass to create art forms such as stained glass, blown glass, and various decorated (...) read more

Gouache is an opaque watercolor paint that allows artists to layer from light to dark. Unlike traditional transparent watercolors, gouache is used for creating solid, vibrant colors. It belongs to (...) read more

Graphite is a form of carbon commonly used as the core material in pencils. It can be compressed to various levels of hardness, allowing for different shading effects in drawing. In powdered form, (...) read more

Ink is a colored liquid or paste used for writing, drawing, painting, and printing. The term also refers to the process of applying ink to mark, cover, stain, draw, or trace over pencil lines. Ink (...) read more

An inkjet printer creates prints by spraying millions of tiny ink droplets onto paper. This type of printing is generally inexpensive because the ink is relatively affordable. Artists can use (...) read more

Installation art is a three-dimensional artistic genre that involves site-specific works designed to alter the viewer's perception of space. These works are typically created for interior spaces, (...) read more

Intaglio is a printmaking technique where a design is incised below the surface of a metal or stone plate. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the incised lines or depressions, while the surface is (...) read more

A Lambda print is produced using a Lambda laser printer, a technology developed by the Durst company. The Durst Lambda was one of the first printers to use digital laser technology to create (...) read more

A laser print is created by using red, blue, and green lasers to expose photographic silver halide paper. After exposure, the paper is processed with photographic chemicals to produce an (...) read more

Light art refers to artworks that use light as the primary medium. These can include sculptures or installations that interact with the natural or urban environment. Light art can be suspended, in (...) read more

A limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the (...) read more

Linocut is a printmaking technique similar to woodcut, where a sheet of linoleum is used as the relief surface. The design is carved into the linoleum using a V-shaped gouge or chisel, creating (...) read more

Lithography is a printing method based on the principle that water and oil do not mix. It can be used to print artwork or text onto paper or other suitable materials. Traditionally, an image was (...) read more

Magnum Photos is a photographic cooperative founded in 1947 by four photographers: Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger, and David Chim Seymour. Based in New York, the organization was (...) read more

A maquette is a small-scale model of a sculpture that serves as a preliminary version of the final piece. It allows the artist to experiment with ideas and make adjustments without the expense and (...) read more

Marble is a rare and expensive metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized limestone. It has been used for centuries to create statues, decorative floors, and walls due to its translucency and (...) read more

A marker is a drawing tool filled with colorful inks that dry quickly. Markers come in various sizes and use different colorants, such as ink, dye, or paint. They are available with different tip (...) read more