Term
Figurative art
Art containing recognisable subjects such as people, objects or landscapes, even when they are heavily simplified.
- Category
- Term
- Index letter
- F
Understanding the term
Figuration is not the same as photographic realism. A figure may be distorted, fragmented or reduced to a few signs and remain recognisable. Many works operate precisely in the tension between figurative anchors and abstract areas.
When Figurative art appears in a description, the term helps specify a work's form, status or history. Its precise meaning should always be read alongside information about material, technique, date and origin.
Specialist terminology is most useful when it can be supported. Signatures, labels, edition numbers, documentation and visible traces in the object can all help establish whether a term is accurate in a particular case.
Related entries
Continue through the glossary with terms from the same field.