Art Glossary

Definitions of Art Forms, Mediums, and Movements

Medium, Country, Art Form, Varia
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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
Lambda print

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

Artwork by Araki
Laser print

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

Image © KIDSADA PHOTO/Shutterstock
Latvia

Latvia's contemporary art scene is a fascinating blend of historical influences and innovative expressions. Institutions such as the Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga showcase inspiring (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Vija Celmins
Lebanon

Reflecting its rich cultural heritage and dynamic social discourse, Lebanon has crafted a contemporary art scene that is both vibrant and unique. Artists like Etel Adnan and Akram Zaatari, using (...) read more

Artwork Copyright © Etel Adnan
Light Object

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

Image © bese/Shutterstock
Limited Edition Print

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

Image © Petr Lerch/Shutterstock
Linocut

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

Image © vesnushka/Shutterstock
Lithograph

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

Artwork by Dario Perez-Flores
Magnum Photos

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

Artwork by Martine Franck

Est. 2005 — twenty years of collecting, online.