ART VOCABULARY

A Craquelure – Refers to the pattern of fine cracks

Abstractions – It refers to art unconcerned with that appears in the varnish, color, or
the literal depiction of things from the enamel on a work of art as it dries and
visible world–it can however refer to an ages.
object or image which has been distilled
from the real world, or indeed, another
work of art.

Craquelure in Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Curator – A content specialist charged with an
institution’s collections and involved
with the interpretation of heritage
material.

D
Dirt Eater – Tlazolteotl, the divine dirt eater of the
Aztec gods, known to eat divine
excrement. A goddess of decomposition,
she is also known as the goddess of steam
Electric Prisms by Sonia Delaunay
baths which cleanses sin.
Apotrope – Objects treated as deflectors of
illnesses and infertility.

C
Canon – A rule of proportions, so as to produce a
harmoniously formed figure.
Contrapposto – An asymmetrical arrangement of
the human figure in which the line of the
arms and shoulders contrasts with while
balancing those of the hips and legs.

Tlazolteotl
Dominance – The difference in importance of one
aspect in relation to all other aspects of
design. What stands out most in a work
of art.

E
Emphasis – Principle of design concerned that
stresses one element or area in a work of
art to make it attract the viewer’s
attention first.
Entasis – A slight convex curve in the shaft of a
column, introduced to correct the visual
illusion of concavity produced by a
straight shaft.
David by Michelangelo
Exaggeration – Increasing or enlarging an object Improvisation – Spontaneous moment of sudden
or figure or one of its parts to inventiveness that can just come to mind,
communicate ideas and feelings. body and spirit as an inspiration.

F Intuitive Perspective – A method of giving the

Fauvism – The style of the “Fauves”(wild beasts) impression of recession by visual instinct,
which is characterized by strong colors not by the use of an overall program or
and fierce brushwork. system.

L
Lintel – A structural horizontal block that spans
the space or opening between two
vertical supports.

M
Medium – In art refers to the material or means
which the artist uses to objectify his
feeling or thought.
Mellow – Pleasantly smooth or soft; free from
harshness.
Motif – Unit repeated in visual rhythm. Units in a
motif may or may not be an exact
duplicate of the first unit.

S
Green Stripe by Henri Matisse Semiotics – The study of signs and symbols and
Focal point – The center of interest of an artwork; their use or interpretation.
the part you look at first. Sfumato – The technique of allowing tones and
colors to shade gradually into one
G another, producing softened outlines or
Gaudy – A tasteless use of overly bright, often
hazy forms.
clashing colors or excessive
ornamentation.
Gouache – Pigments ground in water and mixed
with gum to form opaque watercolor.
Gouache resembles school tempera paint
or poster paint.

I
Impasto – A technique in which paint is layered
thickly on a surface, so that it creates a
rigid texture when it dries.

The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci