LIBRARY

Art Words

An art glossary built around terms that appear in artwork descriptions on this site, growing little by little.

Index

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
  6. F
  7. G
  8. H
  9. I
  10. J
  11. K
  12. L
  13. M
  14. N
  15. O
  16. P
  17. Q
  18. R
  19. S
  20. T
  21. U
  22. V
  23. W
  24. X
  25. Y
  26. Z
  27. 163 terms
Batik
A wax-resist dyeing technique spread through Southeast Asian maritime trade, with cultural connections to weaving traditions in the southern Philippines.
Varnish
A transparent protective coat applied to a painting; it adjusts gloss and saturation while shielding the surface from grime and UV.
Bayanihan
A Filipino term for the spirit of communal cooperation, iconically the shared lifting of a house — a recurrent subject in painting, sculpture, and community art.
Barangay
The smallest administrative unit in the Philippines; often the working frame for community art and documentary projects.
Baroque
A dramatic and ornate 17th-century European style; reached Manila via Spain and is deeply rooted in its church art.
Biennale
A biennial international art exhibition; Venice, São Paulo, and Gwangju are notable, with the Philippine pavilion participating regularly.
Byzantine
The religious art style of the Eastern Roman Empire. Its gold-ground icons and rigid types fed into Catholic religious painting.