A
abstract: In art, the representation of real objects simplified into lines, shapes, and colors
acrylic: Quick-drying paint made by combining pigments in a synthetic resin solution
angular: Having sharp corners or lines
antique: Dating from a period long ago, as the table in Mandarin in His Study
apprentice: A person who learns from a master or someone highly skilled or knowledgeable in a specific area
arabesque: A decorative style that features interlacing, curving lines and flowers, animals, or leaves
architectural draftsperson: An artist who is skilled in drawing buildings and structures
C
calligraphy: An elegant form of handwriting. In East Asia, calligraphy is done with a brush and ink and is considered the highest art form
cast: To reproduce a three-dimensional object, such as a sculpture, using a mold. One common way to make a mold is to encase an object in wet plaster. After the plaster has set, the object is removed. The hollow space left by the object can be filled with molten metal or wet plaster, which hardens into the shape of the object. The copy produced is also called a cast.
collage: Technique in which pieces of fabric, paper, or objects are glued onto a surface
composition: Arrangement of formal elements (lines, shapes, colors, and patterns) in a work of art
concentric: Having a common center; usually applies to spheres or circles
contrast: The use of opposite effects or formal elements (lines, shapes, colors, patterns) placed near each other to add drama to a work of art
cowter: Piece of armor used to protect the elbow
Cubism: Style of art in which people, places, and things are simplified into flat, geometric shapes, often seen from multiple points of view
cuisse: Piece of armor that is worn to protect the thigh
D
decorative motif: Repeated design or pattern in a work of art
E
embroidered crest: Emblem or symbol that is stitched onto fabric with a needle and thread
etching: Technique used by artists to create pictures and decorative designs on metal—for example, Armor, for Use in a Tournament Fought on Foot. After covering the surface of a piece of metal with a chemical-resistant coating, the artist scratches lines into the surface. The metal is then placed in a chemical solution that eats away the unprotected parts, cutting the artist's design into the surface
Expressionist: Art in which artists are primarily concerned with communicating their emotions by distorting colors and shapes in very personal ways
F
flock: Small clump of fabric or fiber
fluorescent: Strikingly bright or glowing
G
geometric: Having the straight or curving lines or shapes used in geometry
geometric abstraction: Art in which the subject is simplified into geometric shapes and lines
glaze: Hard, shiny coat applied to pottery to seal it and add color
H
harmony: Consistent, orderly, and pleasing arrangement
heirloom: Family possession handed down from one generation to the next
hexagon: Geometric shape with six sides and six angles
highlights: Parts of a painting, drawing, or sculpture that appear to be lit up or are prominent
homage: Respect for something or someone shown publicly—such as the sculpture Malcolm X, No. 3 by Barbara Chase-Riboud
horizontal: Parallel to the ground or the horizon line
I
illuminated: Brightened with light
illusion: Aspects of a painting that are made to appear different from the way they are in reality. For example, in Night Sea by Edna Andrade straight lines look curvy because of how they are arranged
impasto: Thick paint applied in heavy layers with visible brushstrokes
K
kaleidoscope: Tube-shaped instrument with an opening at one end for viewing. As the tube is turned, bits of colored glass at the end of the tube tumble about and reflect in mirrors, creating a variety of symmetrical designs
L
landscape: A picture representing natural inland or coastal scenery
literati: Scholarly, well-educated people; intellectuals
luminescent: Emitting light not caused by incandescence (which is light caused by high temperature)
M
master printer: An expert in printing techniques who guides artists and students in making their prints
modeling: In drawing and painting, the depiction of three-dimensional form through light and shadow
mosaic: Technique of creating patterns and images using tiles or broken pieces of stone, glass, or wood materials. Mosaics can be placed on walls, ceilings, floors, or furniture.
motif: Distinctive and repeating form, shape, or figure in a design
muted: Dark or softened tones, shades, or colors
O
ochre: Earthy yellow color
octagon: Geometric shape with eight sides and eight angles
opaque: Not allowing any light to pass through—for example, the watercolors used in Sugriva Takes Rama to the Mountain Cave Where Sita’s Jewels Are Kept, which completely obscure the paper
P
pattern: Decorative design composed of elements in a regular arrangement—for example, the geometric patterns on the Leopard Stool and Tile Mosaic Wall Panel. Pattern can also mean anything designed to serve as a model or guide for something to be made; for example, the patterns used to create clothing or armor
pedestal: Support or base for a sculpture
plate armor: Armor that consists of metal sheets hammered and joined to fit around the contours of the wearer's body—in contrast to mail (chain mail), an armor consisting of many small, interlocking rings
point of view: Viewer's visual angle, or location, in relation to the subject of a painting
portrait: Depiction or description of a person, often created by an artist or writer
portrait bust: Sculpture representing the physical likeness of an individual consisting of only the head and top of the shoulders
pose: Body position assumed deliberately for an artistic purpose
R
radial: Organized around a central point. The Sunburst Quilt by Rebecca Scattergood Savery has a radial design.
realistic: When figures and scenes are depicted as they are or might be experienced in everyday life; lifelike; naturalistic—for example, Bust of Benjamin Franklin by Jean-Antoine Houdon
S
scroll: In China, Korea, and Japan, a painting or text on silk or paper that is either displayed on a wall or held and viewed in single, arm's-length sections; for example, Bamboo under Spring Rain by Xia Chang
symbol: Something chosen to represent something else in a work of art or a story, especially an object, animal, or sign that stands for an idea, person, or emotion. In the Leopard Stool, the leopard symbolizes the king or royalty
symmetrical: Composition that is identical on the right and left sides, or on the top and bottom
synthetic: Manufactured through a chemical process, as opposed to a natural process
T
tactile: Relating to the sense of touch
template: Pattern or guide for drawing or reproducing certain standard shapes or symbols: for example, Rebecca Scattergood Savery used templates to create her Sunburst Quilt; unknown artisans used templates to create the Persian Tile Mosaic Wall Panel; Edna Andrade used a template to create Night Sea
terracotta: Brownish-red clay. Terracotta literally means cooked or baked earth. Often used to make sculpture or tiles
texture: The look and/or feel of the surface of a work of art
turquoise: Greenish-blue color
V
vertical: In an upright position
W
washes: Applications of diluted watercolor
abstract: In art, the representation of real objects simplified into lines, shapes, and colors
acrylic: Quick-drying paint made by combining pigments in a synthetic resin solution
angular: Having sharp corners or lines
antique: Dating from a period long ago, as the table in Mandarin in His Study
apprentice: A person who learns from a master or someone highly skilled or knowledgeable in a specific area
arabesque: A decorative style that features interlacing, curving lines and flowers, animals, or leaves
architectural draftsperson: An artist who is skilled in drawing buildings and structures
C
calligraphy: An elegant form of handwriting. In East Asia, calligraphy is done with a brush and ink and is considered the highest art form
cast: To reproduce a three-dimensional object, such as a sculpture, using a mold. One common way to make a mold is to encase an object in wet plaster. After the plaster has set, the object is removed. The hollow space left by the object can be filled with molten metal or wet plaster, which hardens into the shape of the object. The copy produced is also called a cast.
collage: Technique in which pieces of fabric, paper, or objects are glued onto a surface
composition: Arrangement of formal elements (lines, shapes, colors, and patterns) in a work of art
concentric: Having a common center; usually applies to spheres or circles
contrast: The use of opposite effects or formal elements (lines, shapes, colors, patterns) placed near each other to add drama to a work of art
cowter: Piece of armor used to protect the elbow
Cubism: Style of art in which people, places, and things are simplified into flat, geometric shapes, often seen from multiple points of view
cuisse: Piece of armor that is worn to protect the thigh
D
decorative motif: Repeated design or pattern in a work of art
E
embroidered crest: Emblem or symbol that is stitched onto fabric with a needle and thread
etching: Technique used by artists to create pictures and decorative designs on metal—for example, Armor, for Use in a Tournament Fought on Foot. After covering the surface of a piece of metal with a chemical-resistant coating, the artist scratches lines into the surface. The metal is then placed in a chemical solution that eats away the unprotected parts, cutting the artist's design into the surface
Expressionist: Art in which artists are primarily concerned with communicating their emotions by distorting colors and shapes in very personal ways
F
flock: Small clump of fabric or fiber
fluorescent: Strikingly bright or glowing
G
geometric: Having the straight or curving lines or shapes used in geometry
geometric abstraction: Art in which the subject is simplified into geometric shapes and lines
glaze: Hard, shiny coat applied to pottery to seal it and add color
H
harmony: Consistent, orderly, and pleasing arrangement
heirloom: Family possession handed down from one generation to the next
hexagon: Geometric shape with six sides and six angles
highlights: Parts of a painting, drawing, or sculpture that appear to be lit up or are prominent
homage: Respect for something or someone shown publicly—such as the sculpture Malcolm X, No. 3 by Barbara Chase-Riboud
horizontal: Parallel to the ground or the horizon line
I
illuminated: Brightened with light
illusion: Aspects of a painting that are made to appear different from the way they are in reality. For example, in Night Sea by Edna Andrade straight lines look curvy because of how they are arranged
impasto: Thick paint applied in heavy layers with visible brushstrokes
K
kaleidoscope: Tube-shaped instrument with an opening at one end for viewing. As the tube is turned, bits of colored glass at the end of the tube tumble about and reflect in mirrors, creating a variety of symmetrical designs
L
landscape: A picture representing natural inland or coastal scenery
literati: Scholarly, well-educated people; intellectuals
luminescent: Emitting light not caused by incandescence (which is light caused by high temperature)
M
master printer: An expert in printing techniques who guides artists and students in making their prints
modeling: In drawing and painting, the depiction of three-dimensional form through light and shadow
mosaic: Technique of creating patterns and images using tiles or broken pieces of stone, glass, or wood materials. Mosaics can be placed on walls, ceilings, floors, or furniture.
motif: Distinctive and repeating form, shape, or figure in a design
muted: Dark or softened tones, shades, or colors
O
ochre: Earthy yellow color
octagon: Geometric shape with eight sides and eight angles
opaque: Not allowing any light to pass through—for example, the watercolors used in Sugriva Takes Rama to the Mountain Cave Where Sita’s Jewels Are Kept, which completely obscure the paper
P
pattern: Decorative design composed of elements in a regular arrangement—for example, the geometric patterns on the Leopard Stool and Tile Mosaic Wall Panel. Pattern can also mean anything designed to serve as a model or guide for something to be made; for example, the patterns used to create clothing or armor
pedestal: Support or base for a sculpture
plate armor: Armor that consists of metal sheets hammered and joined to fit around the contours of the wearer's body—in contrast to mail (chain mail), an armor consisting of many small, interlocking rings
point of view: Viewer's visual angle, or location, in relation to the subject of a painting
portrait: Depiction or description of a person, often created by an artist or writer
portrait bust: Sculpture representing the physical likeness of an individual consisting of only the head and top of the shoulders
pose: Body position assumed deliberately for an artistic purpose
R
radial: Organized around a central point. The Sunburst Quilt by Rebecca Scattergood Savery has a radial design.
realistic: When figures and scenes are depicted as they are or might be experienced in everyday life; lifelike; naturalistic—for example, Bust of Benjamin Franklin by Jean-Antoine Houdon
S
scroll: In China, Korea, and Japan, a painting or text on silk or paper that is either displayed on a wall or held and viewed in single, arm's-length sections; for example, Bamboo under Spring Rain by Xia Chang
symbol: Something chosen to represent something else in a work of art or a story, especially an object, animal, or sign that stands for an idea, person, or emotion. In the Leopard Stool, the leopard symbolizes the king or royalty
symmetrical: Composition that is identical on the right and left sides, or on the top and bottom
synthetic: Manufactured through a chemical process, as opposed to a natural process
T
tactile: Relating to the sense of touch
template: Pattern or guide for drawing or reproducing certain standard shapes or symbols: for example, Rebecca Scattergood Savery used templates to create her Sunburst Quilt; unknown artisans used templates to create the Persian Tile Mosaic Wall Panel; Edna Andrade used a template to create Night Sea
terracotta: Brownish-red clay. Terracotta literally means cooked or baked earth. Often used to make sculpture or tiles
texture: The look and/or feel of the surface of a work of art
turquoise: Greenish-blue color
V
vertical: In an upright position
W
washes: Applications of diluted watercolor
