nonrepresentational
Not showing reality
Nonrepresentational describes art that doesn't depict recognizable objects, figures, or scenes from the visible world.
A nonrepresentational painting might consist entirely of geometric shapes, color fields, or gestural marks: Mondrian's grids are purely nonrepresentational.
The term is roughly synonymous with abstract, though some distinguish between abstraction (derived from reality) and nonrepresentation (having no reference to it at all).
Relating to body movements
- hard-edgeAbrupt color transitions style
- biomorphicResembling living organism shapes
- suprematismBelief in group dominance
- automatismInvoluntary mechanical behavior
nonobjective · all-over · impasto · chromatic · painterly
Distilling to essential qualities
- nonobjectiveLacking depicted subject matter
- nonfigurativeNot depicting reality
- nonrepresentationAbsence of realistic portrayal
- formalismPrivileging structure over substance
essentialism · transcendental · immaterial · intangible · essence · perception · phenomenology · subjectivity
Art rejecting literal representation
- suprematismBelief in group dominance
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
- minimalismAesthetic of reduction
Relating to mathematical shapes
- organicFrom living matter
- amorphousWithout distinct shape
- linearArranged in straight succession
- planarOf a flat surface
chromatic · compositional · spatial · textural · gestural · rhythmic · dynamic · asymmetrical
Tending to summon memories
- expressiveShowing feelings outwardly
- intuitiveKnown without reasoning
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- meditativeInclined toward deep reflection
contemplative · emotive · visceral · subliminal · atmospheric · enigmatic · ambiguous · suggestive
gestural
Relating to body movements
- hard-edgeAbrupt color transitions style
- biomorphicResembling living organism shapes
- suprematismBelief in group dominance
automatism · nonobjective · all-over · impasto · chromatic · painterly
abstraction
Distilling to essential qualities
- nonobjectiveLacking depicted subject matter
- nonfigurativeNot depicting reality
- nonrepresentationAbsence of realistic portrayal
formalism · essentialism · transcendental · immaterial · intangible · essence · perception · phenomenology · subjectivity · objectivity
abstractionism
Art rejecting literal representation
- suprematismBelief in group dominance
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
- minimalismAesthetic of reduction
geometric
Relating to mathematical shapes
planar · chromatic · compositional · spatial · textural · gestural · rhythmic · dynamic · asymmetrical · balanced
evocative
Tending to summon memories
- expressiveShowing feelings outwardly
- intuitiveKnown without reasoning
- spontaneousArising without external cause
meditative · contemplative · emotive · visceral · subliminal · atmospheric · enigmatic · ambiguous · suggestive · ineffable
Kandinsky
Bauhaus painting instructor
- art stylesimpressionism, surrealism, cubism, realism, pop art
- art termspainting, sculpture, drawing, portrait, landscape
- abstract artabstract art, abstract expressionism, abstraction, expressionism, abstract composition
nonrepresentationalrepresentational
Depicting recognizable subjects
figurative · realistic · naturalistic · lifelike · mimetic
represent, representation, representative, representing, represented, represents, misrepresentation, misrepresented, representational