Art Glossary

Cubism is an art movement that aimed to depict multiple perspectives of objects or figures within a single picture. Artists Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso pioneered this style around 1907. The name (...) read more

Cyanotype is a photographic technique that creates images in shades of blue, commonly known as blueprints. It involves coating a surface with a mixture of two chemicals, typically ferric ammonium (...) read more

Cynical Realism is a term first used in 1992 by art critic Li Xianting to describe a group of Beijing artists who created satirical social realist paintings. The group aimed to depict the (...) read more

The Czech Republic boasts a vibrant contemporary art scene, rooted in its rich artistic heritage. The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague and the Moravian Gallery in Brno feature an array of (...) read more

Also known as Dadaism, Dada was a literary and artistic movement that began in 1916 in Zurich, Switzerland. It emerged as a rejection of rationalism and nationalism, which were seen as contributing (...) read more

Tansaekhwa, also known as monochrome painting, is a movement in Korean art that began in the mid-1970s. These artworks are characterized by the manipulation of painting materials, such as pushing (...) read more

Dau Al Set was an artistic movement that sought to express both the conscious and unconscious mind through art. Initially an offshoot of Surrealism, it evolved into a distinct movement over time. (...) read more

De Stijl, meaning The Style, was a group of Dutch artists who created abstract art based on strict adherence to vertical and horizontal geometry. The group was founded by Piet Mondrian and Theo van (...) read more

Denmark's thriving contemporary art scene, fueled by its rich design tradition and avant-garde influences, features a range of innovative artists. ARKEN Museum of Modern Art and the Louisiana Museum (...) read more

Digital art refers to artistic practices or works that utilize digital technology as an essential component of both the creation and presentation process. Since the 1970s, various terms like (...) read more

Digital print on paper refers to a digital image printed with archival-grade inks on high-quality, acid-free paper. This process ensures the print can last over twenty years if properly stored. The (...) read more

Digital print on canvas is a technology used to create fine art prints by reproducing digital photographs or artwork on canvas. The digital images are sent to professional printers that accurately (...) read more

Drypoint is an intaglio printmaking technique where an image is incised onto a plate using a sharp, pointed tool, typically a needle made of metal or diamond. Traditionally, copper plates were used, (...) read more

The Düsseldorf School of Photography refers to a group of photographers who studied under Bernd and Hilla Becher at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf during the 1970s. This group was known for its (...) read more

Décollage is an art technique involving the removal, cutting, or tearing away of parts of an original image. The term comes from the French word meaning to take off or to unstick. Artists use this (...) read more

Earth art, also known as Land Art, emerged in the 1960s and 70s as part of the conceptual art movement. It involves creating artworks by sculpting the land or constructing structures in the landscape (...) read more

India ink is a medium made from fine soot, known as lampblack, combined with water and a binder, usually shellac, to create a black, waterproof ink. It has been used in India since the 4th century (...) read more

In 1981, Patti Astor opened the first art gallery in New York City's East Village, helping to launch the careers of various artists and musicians. The gallery started small but quickly gained (...) read more

EAT (Experiments in Art and Technology) was a movement formed to foster collaborations between engineers and artists. It facilitated direct, person-to-person connections between these two groups. The (...) read more

Embossing is a technique used to create raised designs or images on a surface, typically paper. Artists achieve this effect by altering the shape of the paper, often by pressing it from the reverse (...) read more

Engraving is a printmaking technique where a metal plate or surface is directly cut using a sharp engraving tool called a burin. The tool creates deep lines or grooves, which are then filled with (...) read more

Entropy, in a broader sense, refers to the inevitable deterioration or decline of a society or system. In art, the concept was popularized by artist Robert Smithson in the 1960s. He used the term to (...) read more

Environmental art is a collective term that refers to a wide range of artistic practices and works that engage with historical and ecological themes. The term often encompasses ecological concerns, (...) read more

Ephemeral art is a type of art that occurs only once and typically lasts for a very short period. It cannot be displayed as a traditional work of art in a gallery or museum. Examples of ephemeral art (...) read more