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
Narrative Art
Art that takes story as its subject; embeds temporality through serial, scroll, or comics-like structures.
Niche · Niello
A protective resin film over a painting; trims gloss and shields against dust and grime.
Nude
The depiction of the unclothed body; a continuous tradition from classical ideal beauty to contemporary embodiment.
Neo-Expressionism
A 1980s revival of Expressionism, marked by raw brushwork and mythic subjects.
Neue Sachlichkeit
The 'New Objectivity' that emerged in 1920s Germany, marked by a cool, dry depiction of reality.
Nocturne
A general term for night- or moon-lit paintings; James McNeill Whistler is emblematic.