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
Tapestry
A large textile that builds a pictorial image through weaving; long combining spatial decor and storytelling since the medieval era.
T'nalak
A sacred cloth of the T'boli people of southern Mindanao; woven from abaca with geometric patterns, also a reference for contemporary art.
Tingguian
An Indigenous people of northern Luzon, known for weaving with banana fibre and indigo and for a pictorial sense of pattern.
Tint
A pure colour lightened with white; a basic element of colour planning.
Tempera
A fast-drying paint bound with egg yolk; reached its peak in early-Renaissance altarpieces.
Triennale
A triennial international exhibition; alongside Milan and Paris, hosted across Asia today.
Triptych
A three-panel work form; spans medieval altarpieces to contemporary serial works.
Torso
A torso sculpture lacking head and limbs; a tradition descending from ancient sculpture fragments.
Trompe-l'œil
A hyper-realist technique that fools the eye, deliberately blurring the boundary between picture and world.
Tone
Gradations of light and hue; key to composition and atmosphere.