Art Glossary

Definitions of Art Forms, Mediums, and Movements

Medium, Art Form, Country
Image View
Etching

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

Artwork by Arnulf Rainer
Etching and Aquatint

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

Artwork Copyright © Robert Mangold
Ethiopia

Ethiopia's emerging contemporary art scene mirrors its diverse cultural heritage and dynamic present. The Modern Art Museum - Gebre Kristos Desta Center in Addis Ababa champions innovative Ethiopian (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Julie Mehretu
Found objects

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

Artwork by Marcel Duchamp
France

Contemporary Art in France is a testament to the country's rich artistic heritage and its innovative spirit. French artists, such as Pierre Soulages and Yves Klein, have made significant (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Louise Bourgeois
Gelatin Silver Print

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

Image © Corepics VOF/Shutterstock
Georgia

In Georgia, contemporary art mirrors its rich cultural past while embracing modern narratives. Key cultural institutions, such as the Tbilisi Museum of Contemporary Art and the Rustaveli National (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Mariam Sitchinava
Germany

Germany is a global powerhouse in contemporary art, home to iconic institutions such as the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum in Berlin and the Museum of Modern Art in Frankfurt. Renowned artists like Gerhard (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Georg Baselitz
Ghana

Ghana's contemporary art scene brims with creativity, reflecting its rich traditions and current realities. Accra's Gallery 1957 and the annual Chale Wote Street Art Festival offer platforms for (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © El Anatsui
Giclée printing

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

Artwork by Gerhard Richter
Glass

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

Image © Dalaifood/Shutterstock
Gouache

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

Image © Botyev Volodymyr/Shutterstock
Graphite

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

Image © remedios55/Shutterstock
Greece

Greece's vibrant contemporary art scene is a fusion of ancient heritage and modern perspectives. Institutions like the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens echo this dynamic. Famed artist (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Jannis Kounellis
Hungary

Hungary's contemporary art scene is a captivating blend of history and modernity, encapsulating the nation's unique cultural evolution. Key venues such as the Ludwig Museum in Budapest and the MODEM (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Victor Vasarely
India

India's contemporary art scene is a vibrant amalgamation of tradition and innovation. Key spaces like the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in New Delhi, and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale showcase a diverse (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Anish Kapoor
Ink

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

Image © nani888/Shutterstock
Inkjet print

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

Image © KOKTARO/Shutterstock
Installation

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

Image © OliveTree/Shutterstock
Intaglio

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

Artwork by Jasper Johns
Ireland

In Ireland, contemporary art is a reflection of its rich history intertwined with current issues and innovative ideas. Dublin's Irish Museum of Modern Art and Temple Bar Gallery are key institutions (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Francis Bacon
Israel

In Israel, contemporary art is a captivating blend of diverse influences reflecting its complex history and cultural mosaic. Renowned institutions such as the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Israel (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Yaacov Agam
Italy

The contemporary art scene in Italy is a testament to the nation's deep-rooted artistic tradition, vibrantly interacting with innovative expressions and global movements. Esteemed institutions, (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Mimmo Paladino
Japan

Contemporary Art in Japan is a vibrant fusion of traditional aesthetics and modern creativity. Japanese artists, such as Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami, have made significant contributions to the (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Yayoi Kusama

Est. 2005 — twenty years of collecting, online.