Art DictionaryLearn the Language of Art
Art words explained in plain language. Many lead on to lessons where you can try them yourself.
717 terms in 8 categories
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A
Aboriginal ArtHIS 002 CAbstractFRM 003 CAbstract ExpressionismHIS 004 CAbstractionFRM 005 CAcademic ArtHIS 006 CAcrylicMAT 007 CAcrylic PouringTEC 008 CAction PaintingHIS 009 CAdditive Color MixingCOL 010 CAerial Perspective (Atmospheric PerspectiveCMP 011 CAestheticismHIS 012 CAestheticsFRM 013 CAfterimageCOL 014 CAI ArtFRM 015 CAir-Dry ClayMAT 016 CAlcohol InkMAT 017 CAlcohol MarkerMAT 018 CAlizarin CrimsonCOL 019 CAlla PrimaTEC 020 CAllegoryFRM 021 CAltarpieceFRM 022 CAnalogous ColorsCOL 023 CAnimationFRM 024 CAntiquityHIS 025 CAphorismFRM 026 CApplied ArtsFRM 027 CAppliquéTEC 028 CAppraisalWLD 029 CAppropriationFRM 030 CApseARC 031 CAquatintTEC 032 CArabesqueFRM 033 CArchARC 034 CArchitectureARC 035 CArmatureMAT 036 CArrangementCMP 037 CArtFRM 038 CArt AcademyWLD 039 CArt AssociationWLD 040 CArt CollectorWLD 041 CArt CriticWLD 042 CArt CritiqueWLD 043 CArt DealerWLD 044 CArt DecoHIS 045 CArt FairWLD 046 CArt HistorianWLD 047 CArt MarketWLD 048 CArt NouveauHIS 049 CArt PricingWLD 050 CArt PrizeWLD 051 CArte PoveraHIS 052 CArtistWLD 053 CArtist GrantWLD 054 CArtist ResidencyWLD 055 CArtist StatementWLD 056 CArtist TalkWLD 057 CArtistic AnatomyTEC 058 CArtist’s ProofFRM 059 CArts and Crafts MovementHIS 060 CAssemblageTEC 061 CAsymmetryCMP 062 CAtriumARC 063 CAttributeFRM 064 CAttributionWLD 065 CAuctionWLD 066 CAutodidact ArtistWLD 067 CAvant-gardeHIS 068 CAxonometric DrawingARC 069 C
B
BackgroundCMP 070 CBalanceCMP 071 CBalustradeARC 072 CBarbizon SchoolHIS 073 CBaroqueHIS 074 CBaroque ArchitectureARC 075 CBatikTEC 076 CBauhausARC 077 CBenin BronzesHIS 078 CBiedermeierHIS 079 CBiennaleWLD 080 CBinderMAT 081 CBird’s-Eye ViewCMP 082 CBlendingTEC 083 CBlending StumpMAT 084 CBlind Contour DrawingTEC 085 CBlueCOL 086 CBlueprintARC 087 CBody ArtHIS 088 CBotanical IllustrationTEC 089 CBrayerMAT 090 CBristol BoardMAT 091 CBronzeMAT 092 CBrush PenMAT 093 CBrushstrokeTEC 094 CBrutalismARC 095 CBurinMAT 096 CBurnishingTEC 097 CBurnt SiennaCOL 098 CBurnt UmberCOL 099 CBustFRM 100 CButtressARC 101 CByzantine ArtHIS 102 C
C
Cadmium RedCOL 103 CCadmium YellowCOL 104 CCalligraphyTEC 105 CCamera ObscuraFRM 106 CCanon of ProportionsCMP 107 CCantileverARC 108 CCanvasMAT 109 CCapitalARC 110 CCapriccioFRM 111 CCaravaggistiHIS 112 CCaricatureTEC 113 CCarmineCOL 114 CCartoonTEC 115 CCarvingTEC 116 CCast ShadowCMP 117 CCastingTEC 118 CCatalogue RaisonnéWLD 119 CCave PaintingHIS 120 CCensured ExhibitionWLD 121 CCentral PerspectiveCMP 122 CCeramic GlazeMAT 123 CCeramicsFRM 124 CCertificate of AuthenticityWLD 125 CCerulean BlueCOL 126 CCharcoalMAT 127 CChiaroscuroTEC 128 CChildren’s ArtFRM 129 CChine-colléTEC 130 CChinoiserieFRM 131 CChromaCOL 132 CClair-obscurTEC 133 CClassical OrdersARC 134 CClassicismHIS 135 CClayMAT 136 CCloisonnismHIS 137 CCMYKCOL 138 CCobalt BlueCOL 139 CCoBrAHIS 140 CCoil BuildingTEC 141 CCold-Pressed PaperMAT 142 CCollageTEC 143 CCollagraphTEC 144 CColonnadeARC 145 CColorCOL 146 CColor BiasCOL 147 CColor Field PaintingHIS 148 CColor HarmonyCOL 149 CColor MixingCOL 150 CColor PerspectiveCOL 151 CColor PsychologyCOL 152 CColor SchemeCOL 153 CColor SymbolismCOL 154 CColor TemperatureCOL 155 CColor TheoryCOL 156 CColor WheelCOL 157 CColored PaperMAT 158 CColored PencilMAT 159 CColoring PageFRM 160 CColumnARC 161 CComicsFRM 162 CCommissionWLD 163 CComplementary ColorsCOL 164 CComposition (of an image)CMP 165 CConceptual ArtHIS 166 CConservationWLD 167 CConsignmentWLD 168 CConstruction LinesTEC 169 CConstructivismHIS 170 CConté CrayonMAT 171 CContemporary ArtHIS 172 CContourCMP 173 CContour DrawingTEC 174 CContrappostoCMP 175 CContrastCMP 176 CCopyrightWLD 177 CCore ShadowCMP 178 CCorniceARC 179 CCraftsFRM 180 CCraquelureMAT 181 CCroppingCMP 182 CCroquisTEC 183 CCross-Contour LinesTEC 184 CCross-HatchingTEC 185 CCubismHIS 186 CCuratorWLD 187 CCyanotypeTEC 188 CCyber GalleryWLD 189 C
D
Dadaism (Dada)HIS 190 CDaguerreotypeFRM 191 CDamar VarnishMAT 192 CDanish DesignARC 193 CDanish Golden AgeHIS 194 CDe StijlHIS 195 CDeconstructivismARC 196 CDecorationFRM 197 CDecoupageTEC 198 CDepthCMP 199 CDer Blaue ReiterHIS 200 CDesignARC 201 CDiagonalCMP 202 CDie BrückeHIS 203 CDigital ArtFRM 204 CDigital PaintingFRM 205 CDip PenMAT 206 CDiptychFRM 207 CDissonanceCMP 208 CDivisionismHIS 209 CDomeARC 210 CDoodleTEC 211 CDrawingFRM 212 CDrawing from ObservationTEC 213 CDrip PaintingTEC 214 CDry BrushTEC 215 CDrypointTEC 216 CDutch Golden AgeHIS 217 C
E
Early Netherlandish PaintingHIS 218 CEarth ColorsCOL 219 CEarthenwareMAT 220 CEaselMAT 221 CEbruTEC 222 CEditionFRM 223 CEdo PeriodHIS 224 CEgyptian ArtHIS 225 CElements of ArtCMP 226 CElevationARC 227 CElevator PitchWLD 228 CEllipseCMP 229 CEmbossingTEC 230 CEmbroideryTEC 231 CEmphasisCMP 232 CEncausticMAT 233 CEngravingTEC 234 CEpoxy ResinMAT 235 CEtchingTEC 236 CEtching PressMAT 237 CEtruscan ArtHIS 238 CExpressionismHIS 239 CEye LevelCMP 240 C
F
FacadeARC 241 CFan BrushMAT 242 CFat over LeanTEC 243 CFauvismHIS 244 CFeltingTEC 245 CFeminist ArtHIS 246 CFigurative ArtFRM 247 CFigure-GroundCMP 248 CFilbert BrushMAT 249 CFinelinerMAT 250 CFiringTEC 251 CFixativeMAT 252 CFlat BrushMAT 253 CFloor PlanARC 254 CFlowing Acrylic PaintMAT 255 CFluid AcrylicMAT 256 CFluid ArtTEC 257 CFluxusHIS 258 CFlying ButtressARC 259 CFocal PointCMP 260 CFolk ArtFRM 261 CForegroundCMP 262 CForeshorteningCMP 263 CForgeryWLD 264 CFormCMP 265 CForm Follows FunctionARC 266 CFormal AnalysisFRM 267 CFound ObjectFRM 268 CFramingCMP 269 CFrescoTEC 270 CFriezeARC 271 CFrottageTEC 272 CFunctionalismARC 273 CFunen PaintersHIS 274 CFuturismHIS 275 C
G
GalleristWLD 276 CGalleryWLD 277 CGallery CommissionWLD 278 CGargoyleARC 279 CGel MediumMAT 280 CGel Plate PrintingTEC 281 CGenerative ArtFRM 282 CGenreFRM 283 CGenre PaintingFRM 284 CGessoMAT 285 CGesture DrawingTEC 286 CGicléeFRM 287 CGildingTEC 288 CGlass ArtFRM 289 CGlazingTEC 290 CGlazing MediumMAT 291 CGold LeafMAT 292 CGoldenMAT 293 CGolden SpiralCMP 294 CGothicHIS 295 CGothic RevivalARC 296 CGouacheMAT 297 CGradationCMP 298 CGraded WashTEC 299 CGraffitiFRM 300 CGranulationCOL 301 CGraphic ArtFRM 302 CGraphic DesignARC 303 CGraphiteMAT 304 CGraphite DustMAT 305 CGrayscaleCOL 306 CGridCMP 307 CGrisailleTEC 308 CGrotesqueFRM 309 CGroup ExhibitionWLD 310 CGum ArabicMAT 311 C
H
Half-TimberingARC 312 CHand LetteringTEC 313 CHansa YellowCOL 314 CHappeningHIS 315 CHard and Soft EdgesCMP 316 CHard-Edge PaintingHIS 317 CHarlem RenaissanceHIS 318 CHarmonyCMP 319 CHatchingTEC 320 CHeavy Body AcrylicMAT 321 CHellenistic ArtHIS 322 CHigh RenaissanceHIS 323 CHighlightCMP 324 CHistory PaintingFRM 325 CHomageFRM 326 CHorizon LineCMP 327 CHot-Pressed PaperMAT 328 CHueCOL 329 CHyperrealismHIS 330 C
I
IconFRM 331 CIconographyFRM 332 CIconologyFRM 333 CIlluminated ManuscriptFRM 334 CIllustrationFRM 335 CImage (Picture)FRM 336 CImage AnalysisCMP 337 CImpastoTEC 338 CImpressionismHIS 339 CIndia InkMAT 340 CIndigoCOL 341 CIndustrial DesignARC 342 CInkMAT 343 CInk WashTEC 344 CInstallation ArtFRM 345 CInstitutional CritiqueHIS 346 CIntaglioTEC 347 CInternational StyleARC 348 CIslamic ArtHIS 349 CIsometric DrawingARC 350 CIvory BlackCOL 351 C
J
K
L
Land ArtHIS 362 CLandscapeFRM 363 CLapis LazuliCOL 364 CLay FigureMAT 365 CLead WhiteCOL 366 CLeading LinesCMP 367 CLife DrawingTEC 368 CLiftingTEC 369 CLight and ShadowCMP 370 CLight SourceCMP 371 CLightfastnessMAT 372 CLimited EditionFRM 373 CLineCMP 374 CLinear PerspectiveCMP 375 CLinocutTEC 376 CLinoleumMAT 377 CLinseed OilMAT 378 CLithographyTEC 379 CLocal ColorCOL 380 CLoggiaARC 381 CLoomMAT 382 CLost-Wax CastingTEC 383 CLunetteARC 384 C
M
MacraméTEC 385 CMagical RealismHIS 386 CMalachiteCOL 387 CMandalaFRM 388 CMangaFRM 389 CMannerismHIS 390 CMansard RoofARC 391 CMarbleMAT 392 CMars BlackCOL 393 CMasking FluidMAT 394 CMasking TapeMAT 395 CMaster CopyTEC 396 CMasterpieceFRM 397 CMedieval ArtHIS 398 CMediumMAT 399 CMesopotamian ArtHIS 400 CMetaphysical PaintingHIS 401 CMexican MuralismHIS 402 CMezzotintTEC 403 CMid-Century ModernARC 404 CMiddle GroundCMP 405 CMimesisFRM 406 CMiniatureFRM 407 CMinimalismHIS 408 CMinoan ArtHIS 409 CMixed MediaFRM 410 CMixed Media PaperMAT 411 CMobileFRM 412 CModelingTEC 413 CModeling ClayMAT 414 CModeling PasteMAT 415 CModern ArtHIS 416 CModernismHIS 417 CMonochromeCOL 418 CMonoprintTEC 419 CMonotypeTEC 420 CMonumentFRM 421 CMood BoardARC 422 CMosaicFRM 423 CMother ColorCOL 424 CMotifFRM 425 CMovementCMP 426 CMuddy ColorsCOL 427 CMughal PaintingHIS 428 CMunsell Color SystemCOL 429 CMuralFRM 430 CMuseumWLD 431 C
N
NabisHIS 432 CNaive ArtFRM 433 CNaples YellowCOL 434 CNarrative ArtFRM 435 CNaturalismHIS 436 CNaveARC 437 CNegative SpaceCMP 438 CNeo-ExpressionismHIS 439 CNeo-PlasticismHIS 440 CNeoclassicismHIS 441 CNeurographic ArtTEC 442 CNeutral ColorsCOL 443 CNew BabylonARC 444 CNew BrutalismARC 445 CNew ObjectivityHIS 446 CNFTFRM 447 CNorthern RenaissanceHIS 448 CNouveau RéalismeHIS 449 CNudeFRM 450 C
O
OchreMAT 451 COeuvreFRM 452 COil PaintMAT 453 COil PaintingTEC 454 COil PastelMAT 455 COld MastersHIS 456 COp ArtHIS 457 COpacityCOL 458 COpen CallWLD 459 COpen StudioWLD 460 COptical MixingCOL 461 COrganic ArchitectureARC 462 COrientalismHIS 463 COrigamiTEC 464 COrnamentARC 465 COrphismHIS 466 COutsider ArtFRM 467 COverlappingCMP 468 C
P
Paint TubeMAT 469 CPaintingFRM 470 CPainting on CeramicsTEC 471 CPaletteMAT 472 CPalette KnifeMAT 473 CPalladianismARC 474 CPanelMAT 475 CPantoneCOL 476 CPaper CuttingTEC 477 CPaper MarblingTEC 478 CPapier-mâchéTEC 479 CPasse-partoutWLD 480 CPastelMAT 481 CPastel PaperMAT 482 CPasticheFRM 483 CPatinaMAT 484 CPatronWLD 485 CPatternCMP 486 CPayne’s GrayCOL 487 CPedimentARC 488 CPen and InkTEC 489 CPencilMAT 490 CPencil GradesMAT 491 CPentimentoTEC 492 CPerformance ArtHIS 493 CPersonificationFRM 494 CPerspectiveCMP 495 CPhoto TransferTEC 496 CPhotographyFRM 497 CPhotomontageFRM 498 CPhotorealismHIS 499 CPhthalo BlueCOL 500 CPhthalo GreenCOL 501 CPicture PlaneCMP 502 CPicturesqueFRM 503 CPietàFRM 504 CPigmentMAT 505 CPilasterARC 506 CPinch PotTEC 507 CPinhole CameraFRM 508 CPixel ArtFRM 509 CPlasterMAT 510 CPlein AirTEC 511 CPointillismHIS 512 CPolymer ClayMAT 513 CPolyptychFRM 514 CPop ArtHIS 515 CPorcelainMAT 516 CPortfolioWLD 517 CPorticoARC 518 CPortraitFRM 519 CPositive SpaceCMP 520 CPost-ImpressionismHIS 521 CPost-Painterly AbstractionHIS 522 CPosterFRM 523 CPostmodern ArchitectureARC 524 CPostmodernismHIS 525 CPotteryFRM 526 CPre-Columbian ArtHIS 527 CPre-Raphaelite BrotherhoodHIS 528 CPredellaFRM 529 CPrehistoric ArtHIS 530 CPrimary ColorsCOL 531 CPrimitivismHIS 532 CPrinciples of DesignCMP 533 CPrint on DemandWLD 534 CPrintmakingTEC 535 CProportionCMP 536 CProvenanceWLD 537 CPrussian Blue (Berlin Blue)MAT 538 CPublic ArtFRM 539 C
Q
R
RakuTEC 544 CRaster GraphicsFRM 545 CRaw SiennaCOL 546 CRaw UmberCOL 547 CReady-Mixed PaintMAT 548 CReadymadeFRM 549 CRealismHIS 550 CReflected LightCMP 551 CRelational AestheticsHIS 552 CReliefFRM 553 CRelief PrintingTEC 554 CRenaissanceHIS 555 CRenaissance ArchitectureARC 556 CRepetitionCMP 557 CRestorationWLD 558 CRetarderMAT 559 CRetrospectiveWLD 560 CRGBCOL 561 CRhythmCMP 562 CRococoHIS 563 CRoman ArtHIS 564 CRomanesqueARC 565 CRomanticismHIS 566 CRose WindowARC 567 CRotundaARC 568 CRound BrushMAT 569 CRoyaltiesWLD 570 CRule of ThirdsCMP 571 C
S
Sable BrushMAT 572 CSalonWLD 573 CSalt TechniqueTEC 574 CSanguineMAT 575 CSap GreenCOL 576 CSaturationCOL 577 CScaleCMP 578 CScale ModelARC 579 CScrapbookingTEC 580 CScreen PrintingTEC 581 CSculptureFRM 582 CScumblingTEC 583 CSeascapeFRM 584 CSecondary ColorsCOL 585 CSection DrawingARC 586 CSelf-PortraitFRM 587 CSerifARC 588 CSfumatoTEC 589 CSgraffitoTEC 590 CShadeCOL 591 CShadingTEC 592 CShan ShuiHIS 593 CShapeCMP 594 CSight-SizeTEC 595 CSilhouetteCMP 596 CSilverpointTEC 597 CSimultaneous ContrastCOL 598 CSinopiaTEC 599 CSituationist InternationalHIS 600 CSizingMAT 601 CSkagen PaintersHIS 602 CSketchTEC 603 CSketchbookMAT 604 CSlab BuildingTEC 605 CSmudgingTEC 606 CSocial RealismHIS 607 CSocialist RealismHIS 608 CSoft PastelMAT 609 CSolo ExhibitionWLD 610 CSolventMAT 611 CSpaceCMP 612 CSpatteringTEC 613 CSplit-Complementary ColorsCOL 614 CSpongingTEC 615 CSpray PaintMAT 616 CStained GlassFRM 617 CStaining PigmentCOL 618 CStand OilMAT 619 CStatueFRM 620 CStencilTEC 621 CStill LifeFRM 622 CStipplingTEC 623 CStonewareMAT 624 CStreet ArtHIS 625 CStretcher BarsMAT 626 CStudioWLD 627 CStyleFRM 628 CStylizationFRM 629 CSubtractive Color MixingCOL 630 CSubtractive DrawingTEC 631 CSumi InkMAT 632 CSumi-eTEC 633 CSuprematismHIS 634 CSurrealismHIS 635 CSymbolFRM 636 CSymbolismHIS 637 CSymmetryCMP 638 CSynthetismHIS 639 C
T
TachismeHIS 640 CTapestryFRM 641 CTemperaMAT 642 CTenebrismTEC 643 CTerracottaMAT 644 CTertiary ColorsCOL 645 CTextile ArtFRM 646 CTextureCMP 647 CThe Golden RatioCMP 648 CThe SublimeFRM 649 CThree-Point PerspectiveCMP 650 CThumbnail SketchTEC 651 CTie-DyeTEC 652 CTintCOL 653 CTinting StrengthCOL 654 CTitanium WhiteCOL 655 CTonal DrawingTEC 656 CTondoFRM 657 CToneCOL 658 CToned PaperMAT 659 CTransfer PaperMAT 660 CTransparencyCOL 661 CTrencadísTEC 662 CTriadic ColorsCOL 663 CTriangular CompositionCMP 664 CTriptychFRM 665 CTrompe-l’œilTEC 666 CTwo-Point PerspectiveCMP 667 CTypefaceARC 668 CTypographyARC 669 CTyrian PurpleCOL 670 C
U
V
ValueCMP 678 CValue ScaleCMP 679 CVanishing PointCMP 680 CVanitasFRM 681 CVarietyCMP 682 CVarnishMAT 683 CVaultARC 684 CVector GraphicsFRM 685 CVedutaFRM 686 CVerdaccioTEC 687 CVerdigrisCOL 688 CVermilionCOL 689 CVernissageWLD 690 CVideo ArtHIS 691 CVienna SecessionHIS 692 CViking ArtHIS 693 CViridianCOL 694 CVisual Art (Fine Art)FRM 695 CVisual ArtistWLD 696 CVisual WeightCMP 697 CVitruvian ManCMP 698 C
W
Warm and Cool ColorsCOL 699 CWashTEC 700 CWashiMAT 701 CWatercolorMAT 702 CWatercolor PaperMAT 703 CWatercolor PencilMAT 704 CWatercolor TechniqueTEC 705 CWax ResistTEC 706 CWeavingTEC 707 CWet-on-DryTEC 708 CWet-on-WetTEC 709 CWheel ThrowingTEC 710 CWhite CubeWLD 711 CWoodcutTEC 712 CWorm’s-Eye ViewCMP 713 C
Y
Z
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Welcome to the ArtSchool.nu Art Dictionary — a growing online resource for artists, students, and anyone curious about visual art.
Here you can explore clear explanations of art terms, movements, techniques, and materials — from Abstract Expressionism to Assemblage, from Chiaroscuro to Conceptual Art.
Each definition is written in plain language and connected to related articles, so you can learn not just what a word means, but how it is used in practice.
Whether you paint, draw, sculpt, or simply appreciate art, this dictionary helps you understand the ideas and techniques that shape creative expression.
Browse alphabetically or search for a term to start discovering the language of art.
Learn Techniques and Movements
Each term in the dictionary includes a concise definition and, when relevant, links to extended articles.
You can read about techniques such as acrylic painting, watercolor, and alla prima, or explore movements including Abstract Expressionism, Dadaism, and Surrealism.
The goal is not only to define art words but to show how artists use them in practice.
From understanding chiaroscuro in classical painting to exploring assemblage and mixed media in modern art, you will find accessible explanations written by artists for artists.
A Growing Glossary for Modern Creators
The Art Dictionary is continuously expanding.
New terms are added regularly to cover everything from traditional craftsmanship and composition theory to digital media, photography, and AI-generated art.
It is designed as a living resource that grows with contemporary artistic practice.
Each entry is written clearly and contextually, making it useful for both beginners and experienced professionals.
How to Use the Dictionary
You can browse alphabetically using the A–Z menu or use the search box to find specific art terms.
Each page connects related words, allowing you to move easily from one idea to the next — for example, from abstract to abstraction, or from perspective to vanishing point.
By reading across definitions, you can see how art concepts relate to one another, forming the visual and philosophical structure behind creative work.
For Artists, Students, and Curious Minds
This art glossary is for everyone who wants to understand art more deeply — whether you are studying, teaching, or practicing as an artist.
It encourages exploration, curiosity, and creativity.
Learning art terminology gives you a clearer language to describe your own work and to understand others’.
It helps bridge the gap between what we see and what we can say about art.
Start Exploring
Browse the dictionary alphabetically, or begin with popular topics like abstract art, color theory, perspective, and composition.
Each definition opens the door to new connections and a richer understanding of how artists think, see, and create.