Art Glossary

Orphism is an abstract style of painting influenced by Cubism, developed by Sonia and Robert Delaunay. The term was coined around 1912 by French poet Guillaume Apollinaire to differentiate the (...) read more

Papier-mâché is a composite material made from pieces of paper or pulp, reinforced with textiles and bound with adhesives like starch, wallpaper paste, or glue. There are two main methods to create (...) read more

Pastel is an art medium in stick form made from powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those in other colored art media. The color effect of pastels closely (...) read more

Pen and ink is a traditional drawing technique that involves using a dip pen with India ink on paper. The fine tip of the dip pen is ideal for creating varied lines and detailed shading. Some artists (...) read more

A pencil is a writing and drawing tool with a core of solid pigment, typically graphite or colored, encased in a protective layer of wood or composite material. Pencils make marks on paper by (...) read more

Performance Art is a genre of fine art that is traditionally interdisciplinary, involving various art forms. It can be scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated, spontaneous, or (...) read more

A photograph is an image captured with a camera. Traditionally, photographs were made by exposing film and then developing the image on light-sensitive paper using chemicals. Today, photographs can (...) read more

Photogravure is a high-quality printing process that involves etching a photograph onto a copper plate. The plate is inked and pressed onto paper, producing fine art prints with detailed, soft tones (...) read more

Photorealism is a genre of art or artistic movement that involves drawing, painting, and other graphic media in which the artist carefully studies a photograph and attempts to reproduce it as (...) read more

A pigment print is a type of print that uses ink colored with pigment particles. Pigment ink is commonly used in inkjet printing because it is more durable and resistant to fading compared to (...) read more

Pixel Art is a form of digital art created by placing individual pixels, similar to assembling a mosaic where each small piece contributes to a larger image. The style is often associated with (...) read more

Plaster is a mixture of heat-treated powdered gypsum combined with water to create a workable material. It can be used to make solid sculptures, cast in molds, carved, modeled, or attached to other (...) read more

Plastic is a material made from synthetic or organic compounds that can be molded into various shapes. It became a popular medium for artwork in the 20th century. Plastics can be cut, shaped, (...) read more

A plate is a broad, primarily flat vessel used for serving food, but it can also serve ceremonial or decorative purposes. Plates are typically circular, though they can be any shape and made from (...) read more

A Polaroid print is an instant photograph produced using a Polaroid camera, which develops the image immediately after exposure. The camera's internal processing allows the photograph to develop and (...) read more

Political Pop was an art movement that emerged in China during the 1980s, blending the Pop Art style of Western countries with the socialist realism of China. This movement arose during a time of (...) read more

Pop Art is an art movement that began in Britain in 1955 and in the late 1950s in the U.S. It challenged traditional fine arts by incorporating imagery from popular culture, such as news, (...) read more

Porcelain is a hard, durable material made from clay, primarily composed of the mineral kaolinite. It is fired at high temperatures, resulting in a fine, white, and often translucent finish. (...) read more

Postminimalism refers to a range of art styles that emerged in the 1960s, following the Minimalism movement. While Minimalism focused on simplicity and impersonality, Postminimalist artists retained (...) read more

Postmodernism is an art movement that emerged as a reaction against authority and traditional boundaries, seeking to blur the lines between art and everyday life. It aimed to bridge the gap between (...) read more

Process Art is an artistic movement and creative approach where the focus is on the act of creation rather than the final product. The term process in this context refers to the various stages of (...) read more

Queer Aesthetics refers to an art movement that emerged in the 1980s, focusing on themes of homosexuality, lesbianism, and broader issues of identity and gender. This movement gained momentum in the (...) read more

Readymade is the term coined by French artist Marcel Duchamp to describe artworks created from manufactured objects. Duchamp selected ordinary, functional items that he felt had visual indifference, (...) read more

Relief printing is a printmaking process where the design to be printed is etched or cut into a surface, leaving only the raised areas to transfer ink. The non-printing areas are removed, so only the (...) read more