Art Glossary

A diptych is an artwork composed of two panels. These panels can be painted, carved, or made using various mixed media techniques. They may be connected by hinges, allowing them to close for (...) read more

Drawing and watercolor are two traditional art techniques which stand alone as media, but are often used in conjunction with each other. Drawing can create the basic outlines for watercolor painting. (...) read more

Drypoint is an intaglio printmaking technique where an image is incised onto a plate using a sharp, pointed tool, typically a needle made of metal or diamond. Traditionally, copper plates were used, (...) read more

The Düsseldorf School of Photography refers to a group of photographers who studied under Bernd and Hilla Becher at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf during the 1970s. This group was known for its (...) read more

Décollage is an art technique involving the removal, cutting, or tearing away of parts of an original image. The term comes from the French word meaning to take off or to unstick. Artists use this (...) read more

Earth art, also known as Land Art, emerged in the 1960s and 70s as part of the conceptual art movement. It involves creating artworks by sculpting the land or constructing structures in the landscape (...) read more

India ink is a medium made from fine soot, known as lampblack, combined with water and a binder, usually shellac, to create a black, waterproof ink. It has been used in India since the 4th century (...) read more

In 1981, Patti Astor opened the first art gallery in New York City's East Village, helping to launch the careers of various artists and musicians. The gallery started small but quickly gained (...) read more

EAT (Experiments in Art and Technology) was a movement formed to foster collaborations between engineers and artists. It facilitated direct, person-to-person connections between these two groups. The (...) read more

In art, an edition refers to the total number of identical or closely similar items produced as a set. This often applies to prints, such as lithographs, where multiple copies are made from a single (...) read more

Embossing is a technique used to create raised designs or images on a surface, typically paper. Artists achieve this effect by altering the shape of the paper, often by pressing it from the reverse (...) read more

Emulation is the process of recreating digital art to ensure it remains accessible and functional, even when the original technology used to create it becomes obsolete. This is done by using newer (...) read more

Engraving is a printmaking technique where a metal plate or surface is directly cut using a sharp engraving tool called a burin. The tool creates deep lines or grooves, which are then filled with (...) read more

Entropy, in a broader sense, refers to the inevitable deterioration or decline of a society or system. In art, the concept was popularized by artist Robert Smithson in the 1960s. He used the term to (...) read more

Environmental art is a collective term that refers to a wide range of artistic practices and works that engage with historical and ecological themes. The term often encompasses ecological concerns, (...) read more

Ephemeral art is a type of art that occurs only once and typically lasts for a very short period. It cannot be displayed as a traditional work of art in a gallery or museum. Examples of ephemeral art (...) read more

Épreuve d'Artist refers to the artist's proofs in a limited edition of prints. These are a small number of prints reserved by the artist for personal use and are typically marked with the (...) read more

Etching is a technique where a design is created on a metal surface by using a strong acid or mordant to eat away the unprotected parts of the metal, leaving the desired pattern in relief (intaglio). (...) read more

Etching and aquatint are printmaking techniques. In aquatint, the printing plate is etched with a pattern of tiny pits and cracks to create a wide range of tonal gradations. This technique allows (...) read more

Ethiopia's emerging contemporary art scene mirrors its diverse cultural heritage and dynamic present. The Modern Art Museum - Gebre Kristos Desta Center in Addis Ababa champions innovative Ethiopian (...) read more

Feminist art refers to the art that emerged from the feminist art movement during the 1960s and 1970s. It developed with the intention of critiquing 20th-century gender ideals and challenging the (...) read more

Figuration Libre is an art movement that is equivalent to the French Bad Painting and Neo-Expressionism in Europe and America. The term was coined by Ben Vautier and the Fluxus movement. In 1981, (...) read more

Sometimes known as Figurativism, figurative art refers to sculptures and paintings that are clearly or specifically derived from real objects, making them representational. The term figurative art is (...) read more

Derived from the Latin word meaning flow, Fluxus is an international movement of designers, composers, and artists known for blending various artistic disciplines and media during the 1960s. The (...) read more