Art Glossary

Lettrism is an art form that uses letters, words, and symbols to create artwork. The movement was established in Paris in the 1940s and later gained popularity in the 1950s in America. Lettrisme is (...) 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

The Light and Space Movement refers to loosely affiliated art movements connected to minimalism, geometric abstraction, and op art that originated in Southern California in the 1960s. Greatly (...) 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

Live art is a form of performance that began in the 1960s and is generally exploratory and innovative. It involves a single artist or an artist group presenting the work before a live audience. The (...) read more

Lowbrow is a derogatory term that refers to certain forms of popular culture. It describes an art movement that began in Los Angeles in the 1970s. The term lowbrow originally refers to a person with (...) read more

Lyrical abstraction is a descriptive term characterizing a type of abstract painting closely related to Abstract Expressionism, in use from the 1940s to the present. The term can also describe two (...) 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

Mail Art is a populist art movement centered on the creation and exchange of small-scale artworks through the postal service. It developed out of the Fluxus movement in the 1950s and 1960s and has (...) read more

The Manifesto Invencionista was published in 1946, marking the beginning of the concrete art movement in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Written by artist Tomás Maldonado and published by the Asociación (...) 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

Marouflage on canvas is a technique where a paper artwork is affixed to a canvas using a transparent adhesive. This method is often used to avoid the need for framing behind glass and is usually (...) read more

Massurrealism is a portmanteau word coined by American artist James Seehafer in 1992. He observed a trend among postmodern artists who blended themes and aesthetic styles with mass media, including (...) read more

Matter painting is a technique that involves blending thick impasto paints with materials like cement, mud, sand, or shells. The term first emerged in the 1950s to describe the works of Belgian and (...) read more

The term medium in art refers both to the type of art being created and the materials used to make the artwork. For example, painting, printmaking, and sculpture are types of art that are referred to (...) read more

Metal has been traditionally used in art for creating sculptures, jewelry, masks, adornments, tools, and weapons, often featuring decorative elements. Common types of metal used include bronze, (...) read more

Metalcut was a relief printing technique used primarily in Europe from around 1450 to 1540. The technique involved using thin metal plates. One method involved cutting or hammering away parts of the (...) read more

Mexico's contemporary art scene is a vibrant blend of indigenous traditions and global currents, reflecting its rich cultural history. Museums such as Museo Tamayo and Museo Jumex in Mexico City host (...) read more

Mezzotint is a printmaking technique in which a copper or steel plate is roughened to produce a solid black print. The artist smooths specific areas of the plate to create a range of tones, from deep (...) read more

Minimalism is a style in music and visual arts characterized by pared-down designs and simplicity. It began in Western art after World War II, gaining prominence particularly in American visual arts. (...) read more