nonfigurative
Without depicted subjects
Nonfigurative describes art that doesn't represent recognizable objects, people, or scenes from the physical world.
The term is nearly synonymous with abstract, though nonfigurative emphasizes the complete absence of depiction rather than distortion of it: Mondrian's nonfigurative compositions use only geometric shapes and primary colors.
Relating to mathematical shapes
- hard-edgeAbrupt color transitions style
- minimalismAesthetic of reduction
- suprematismBelief in group dominance
- op artIllusion-based geometric abstraction
nonrepresentational · shape · form · composition · color · line · plane · pattern
Bauhaus painting instructor
Influential modernist design school
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
- cubismGeometric, fragmented visual style
- futurismStudy of tomorrow's possibilities
- expressionismDistorting reality for emotion
abstract expressionism · kinetic art · formalism · action painting
Concept stripped to essentials
- visual languageMeaning through images
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-referentialAlluding to itself
- essenceFundamental nature of something
reduction · universality · spiritual · transcendence · art for art's sake · perceptual
Depicting recognizable subjects
- realisticTrue to life
- naturalisticImitating actual appearance
- objectivePurpose or goal
- depictiveShowing or representing visually
mimetic · illusionistic · lifelike · recognizable · subject matter · narrative · symbolic
geometric
Relating to mathematical shapes
- hard-edgeAbrupt color transitions style
- minimalismAesthetic of reduction
- suprematismBelief in group dominance
op art · nonrepresentational · shape · form · composition · color · line · plane · pattern · rhythm
Kandinsky
Bauhaus painting instructor
Rothko · Still · Motherwell · Reinhardt · Martin · Louis · Riley
Bauhaus
Influential modernist design school
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
- cubismGeometric, fragmented visual style
- futurismStudy of tomorrow's possibilities
expressionism · abstract expressionism · kinetic art · formalism · action painting
pure form
Concept stripped to essentials
- visual languageMeaning through images
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-referentialAlluding to itself
essence · reduction · universality · spiritual · transcendence · art for art's sake · perceptual
representational
Depicting recognizable subjects
- realisticTrue to life
- naturalisticImitating actual appearance
- objectivePurpose or goal
depictive · mimetic · illusionistic · lifelike · recognizable · subject matter · narrative · symbolic
nonfigurativefigurative
Representing through imagery
representational · realistic · naturalistic · lifelike · objective
nonfigurativefigurative
Representing through imagery
metaphoric · metaphorical · symbolic · emblematic · allegorical
figure, disfigure, configuration, figurative, transfigure, prefigure, nonobjective