Introduction
The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, image, filmmaking, design, crafts, and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts, also involve aspects of the visual arts, as well as arts of other types. Within the visual arts, the applied arts, such as industrial design, graphic design, fashion design, interior design, and decorative art are also included.
Current usage of the term "visual arts" includes fine art as well as applied or decorative arts and crafts, but this was not always the case. Before the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain and elsewhere at the turn of the 20th century, the term 'artist' had for some centuries often been restricted to a person working in the fine arts (such as painting, sculpture, or printmaking) and not the decorative arts, crafts, or applied visual arts media. The distinction was emphasized by artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement, who valued vernacular art forms as much as high forms. Art schools made a distinction between the fine arts and the crafts, maintaining that a craftsperson could not be considered a practitioner of the arts.
The increasing tendency to privilege painting, and to a lesser degree sculpture, above other arts has been a feature of Western art as well as East Asian art. In both regions, painting has been seen as relying on the imagination of the artist to the highest degree and being the furthest removed from manual labour β in Chinese painting, the most highly valued styles were those of "scholar-painting", at least in theory practiced by gentleman amateurs. The Western hierarchy of genres reflected similar attitudes. (Full article...)
Selected article
The Nativity is a devotional mid-1450s oil-on-wood panel painting by the Early Netherlandish painter Petrus Christus. It shows a nativity scene with grisaille archways and trompe-l'Εil sculptured reliefs. Christus was influenced by the first generation of Netherlandish artists, especially Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden, and the panel is characteristic of the simplicity and naturalism of art of that period. Placing archways as a framing device is a typical van der Weyden device, and here likely borrowed from that artist's Saint John Altarpiece and Miraflores Altarpiece. Yet Christus adapts these painterly motifs to a uniquely mid-15th century sensibility, and the unusually large panel β perhaps painted as a central altarpiece panel for a triptych β is nuanced and visually complex. It shows his usual harmonious composition and employment of one-point-perspective, especially evident in the geometric forms of the shed's roof, and his bold use of color. It is one of Christus's most important works. Max FriedlΓ€nder definitely attributed the panel to Christus in 1930, concluding that "in scope and importance, [it] is superior to all other known creations of this master."
The overall atmosphere is one of simplicity, serenity and understated sophistication. It is reflective of the 14th-century Devotio Moderna movement, and contains complex Christian symbolism, subtly juxtaposing Old and New Testament iconography. The sculpted figures in the archway depict biblical scenes of sin and punishment, signaling the advent of Christ's sacrifice, with an over-reaching message of the "Fall and Redemption of humankind". Inside the archway, surrounded by four angels, is the Holy Family; beyond, a landscape extends into the far background. (Full article...)
Selected picture
Selected quote
| β | Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence. | β |
| β Henri Matisse, unknown |
Related portals
Selected biography
Benedetto Pistrucci (29 May 1783 β 16 September 1855) was an Italian gem-engraver, medallist and a coin engraver, probably best known for his Saint George and the Dragon design for the British sovereign coin. Pistrucci was commissioned by the British government to create the large Waterloo Medal, a project which took him thirty years to complete.
Born in Rome in 1783, Pistrucci studied briefly with other artists before striking out on his own at age 15. He became prominent as a cameo carver and was patronised by royalty. In 1815, he moved to Britain, where he would live for most of the rest of his life. His talent brought him to the attention of notables including William Wellesley-Pole, the Master of the Mint. Pole engaged Pistrucci to design new coinage, including the sovereign, which was first issued in 1817 to mixed reactions. Although Pole probably promised Pistrucci the post of Chief Engraver, the position could not be awarded as only a British subject could hold it. This slight became a long-term grievance for Pistrucci. (Full article...)
Did you know (auto generated) - load new batch
- ... that the catalogue for Tanzania. Masterworks of African Sculpture highlighted traditional artworks such as a Sukuma mask?
- ... that the early woman explorer AdΓ¨le de Dombasle travelled to Polynesia in 1847 and worked as an illustrator, drawing people such as Queen PΕmare IV?
- ... that although the icosian game was advertised as a "highly amusing game for the drawing room", it was too easy to play and not a commercial success?
- ... that Sarah Pickstone based her John Moores Prizeβwinning painting on an illustration that accompanied the poem "Not Waving but Drowning"?
- ... that Diane Orr and C. Larry Roberts were once said to "epitomize the regional, independent filmmaker"?
- ... that art historian Zehava Jacoby was able to suggest a reconstruction of the lost tomb of Baldwin V of Jerusalem, destroyed in an 1808 fire, using an 18th-century drawing by Elzear Horn?
- ... that Mexican filmmaker David Zonana wrote his first feature film after producing for two other directors?
- ... that in 1933 Nazi sympathisers attempted to kidnap two German-Jewish filmmakers in Liechtenstein?
General images
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π Image 3Spring Morning in the Han Palace, by Ming-era artist Qiu Ying (1494β1552 AD) (from History of painting)Spring Morning in the Han Palace, by Ming-era artist Qiu Ying (1494β1552 AD) (from History of painting)
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π Image 4Cover of the Thanksgiving 1895 issue of The Chap-Book, designed by Will H. Bradley (from Graphic design)Cover of the Thanksgiving 1895 issue of The Chap-Book, designed by Will H. Bradley (from Graphic design)
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π Image 7A Chinese painted jar from the Western Han Era (202 BCE β 9 CE) (from History of painting)A Chinese painted jar from the Western Han Era (202 BCE β 9 CE) (from History of painting)
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π Image 9The Sakyamuni Buddha, by Zhang Shengwen, 1173β1176 AD, Song dynasty period. (from History of painting)The Sakyamuni Buddha, by Zhang Shengwen, 1173β1176 AD, Song dynasty period. (from History of painting)
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π Image 10Pictographs from the Great Gallery, Canyonlands National Park, Horseshoe Canyon, Utah, c. 1500 BCE (from History of painting)Pictographs from the Great Gallery, Canyonlands National Park, Horseshoe Canyon, Utah, c. 1500 BCE (from History of painting)
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Young Mother Sewing, Mary Cassatt (from History of painting)
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Rembrandt van Rijn, The Jewish Bride, ca. 1665β1669 (from History of painting)
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Irbid, Jordan, "We are Arabs. We are Humans". Inside Out is a global participatory art project, initiated by the French photographer JR, an example of Street art. (from Contemporary art)
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π Image 16Francis Picabia, (Left) Le saint des saints c'est de moi qu'il s'agit dans ce portrait, 1 July 1915; (center) Portrait d'une jeune fille americaine dans l'Γ©tat de nuditΓ©, 5 July 1915: (right) J'ai vu et c'est de toi qu'il s'agit, De Zayas! De Zayas! Je suis venu sur les rivages du Pont-Euxin, New York, 1915 (from History of painting)Francis Picabia, (Left) Le saint des saints c'est de moi qu'il s'agit dans ce portrait, 1 July 1915; (center) Portrait d'une jeune fille americaine dans l'Γ©tat de nuditΓ©, 5 July 1915: (right) J'ai vu et c'est de toi qu'il s'agit, De Zayas! De Zayas! Je suis venu sur les rivages du Pont-Euxin, New York, 1915 (from History of painting)
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Spanish cave painting of Bulls (from History of painting)
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π Image 18Silk painting depicting a man riding a dragon, painting on silk, dated to 5thβ3rd century BC, Warring States period, from Zidanku Tomb no. 1 in Changsha, Hunan Province (from History of painting)Silk painting depicting a man riding a dragon, painting on silk, dated to 5thβ3rd century BC, Warring States period, from Zidanku Tomb no. 1 in Changsha, Hunan Province (from History of painting)
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π Image 19Loquats and Mountain Bird, anonymous artist of the Southern Song dynasty; paintings in leaf album style such as this were popular in the Southern Song (1127β1279). (from History of painting)Loquats and Mountain Bird, anonymous artist of the Southern Song dynasty; paintings in leaf album style such as this were popular in the Southern Song (1127β1279). (from History of painting)
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Poster to promote the Centennial of Argentina (1910) (from Graphic design)
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Lascaux, Horse (from History of painting)
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A fresco from Cave 1 of Ajanta. (from History of painting)
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π Image 26Joan MirΓ³, Horse, Pipe and Red Flower, 1920, abstract Surrealism, Philadelphia Museum of Art (from History of painting)Joan MirΓ³, Horse, Pipe and Red Flower, 1920, abstract Surrealism, Philadelphia Museum of Art (from History of painting)
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Book of Hours (from History of painting)
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Colour (from Graphic design)
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Golden section in book design (from Graphic design)
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π Image 35Hand stencils in the "Tree of Life" cave painting in Gua Tewet, Kalimantan, Indonesia (from History of painting)Hand stencils in the "Tree of Life" cave painting in Gua Tewet, Kalimantan, Indonesia (from History of painting)
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π Image 36The Eternal Father Painting the Virgin of Guadalupe. Attributed to JoaquΓn Villegas (1713 β active in 1753) (Mexican) (painter, Museo Nacional de Arte. (from History of painting)The Eternal Father Painting the Virgin of Guadalupe. Attributed to JoaquΓn Villegas (1713 β active in 1753) (Mexican) (painter, Museo Nacional de Arte. (from History of painting)
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π Image 38Gwion Gwion rock paintings found in the north-west Kimberley region of Western Australia c. 15,000 BC (from History of painting)Gwion Gwion rock paintings found in the north-west Kimberley region of Western Australia c. 15,000 BC (from History of painting)
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π Image 39Bharat Mata by Abanindranath Tagore (1871β1951), a nephew of the poet Rabindranath Tagore, and a pioneer of the movement (from History of painting)Bharat Mata by Abanindranath Tagore (1871β1951), a nephew of the poet Rabindranath Tagore, and a pioneer of the movement (from History of painting)
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π Image 41A fresco showing Hades and Persephone riding in a chariot, from the tomb of Queen Eurydice I of Macedon at Vergina, Greece, 4th century BC (from History of painting)A fresco showing Hades and Persephone riding in a chariot, from the tomb of Queen Eurydice I of Macedon at Vergina, Greece, 4th century BC (from History of painting)
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Wayang beber, 17th century (from History of painting)
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π Image 44Muromachi period, Shingei (1431β1485), Viewing a Waterfall, Nezu Museum, Tokyo. (from History of painting)Muromachi period, Shingei (1431β1485), Viewing a Waterfall, Nezu Museum, Tokyo. (from History of painting)
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π Image 46Two Scribes Seated with Books and a Writing Table Fragment of a decorative margin Northern India (Mughal school), ca. 1640β1650 (from History of painting)Two Scribes Seated with Books and a Writing Table Fragment of a decorative margin Northern India (Mughal school), ca. 1640β1650 (from History of painting)
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π Image 47Due to its interdisciplinary nature, graphic design can be performed in different areas of application: branding, technical and artistic drawing, signage, photography, image and video editing, 3D modeling, animation, programming, among other fields. (from Graphic design)Due to its interdisciplinary nature, graphic design can be performed in different areas of application: branding, technical and artistic drawing, signage, photography, image and video editing, 3D modeling, animation, programming, among other fields. (from Graphic design)
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π Image 48Cueva de las Manos (Spanish for Cave of the Hands) in the Santa Cruz province in Argentina, c. 7300 BC (from History of painting)Cueva de las Manos (Spanish for Cave of the Hands) in the Santa Cruz province in Argentina, c. 7300 BC (from History of painting)
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π Image 49Graphic symbols are often functionalist and anonymous, as these pictographs from the US National Park Service illustrate. (from Graphic design)Graphic symbols are often functionalist and anonymous, as these pictographs from the US National Park Service illustrate. (from Graphic design)
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π Image 50An Ethiopian illuminated Evangelist portrait of Mark the Evangelist, from the Ethiopian Garima Gospels, 6th century AD, Kingdom of Aksum (from History of painting)An Ethiopian illuminated Evangelist portrait of Mark the Evangelist, from the Ethiopian Garima Gospels, 6th century AD, Kingdom of Aksum (from History of painting)
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π Image 51In 2021, researchers discovered ancient cave art in Leang Tedongnge, Sulawesi, Indonesia, estimated to be at least 45,500 years old. Depicting a warty pig, this artwork is recognized as the world's oldest known example of figurative or representational art. (from History of painting)In 2021, researchers discovered ancient cave art in Leang Tedongnge, Sulawesi, Indonesia, estimated to be at least 45,500 years old. Depicting a warty pig, this artwork is recognized as the world's oldest known example of figurative or representational art. (from History of painting)
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π Image 52A Boeing 747 aircraft with livery designating it as Air Force One. The cyan forms, the US flag, presidential seal and the Caslon lettering, were all designed at different times, by different designers, for different purposes, and combined by designer Raymond Loewy in this one single aircraft exterior design. (from Graphic design)A Boeing 747 aircraft with livery designating it as Air Force One. The cyan forms, the US flag, presidential seal and the Caslon lettering, were all designed at different times, by different designers, for different purposes, and combined by designer Raymond Loewy in this one single aircraft exterior design. (from Graphic design)
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π Image 53Diego Rivera, Recreation of Man at the Crossroads (renamed Man, Controller of the Universe), originally created in 1934, Mexican muralism movement (from History of painting)Diego Rivera, Recreation of Man at the Crossroads (renamed Man, Controller of the Universe), originally created in 1934, Mexican muralism movement (from History of painting)
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Lascaux, Bulls and Horses (from History of painting)
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π Image 56Mother Goddess A miniature painting of the Pahari style, dating to the eighteenth century. Pahari and Rajput miniatures share many common features. (from History of painting)Mother Goddess A miniature painting of the Pahari style, dating to the eighteenth century. Pahari and Rajput miniatures share many common features. (from History of painting)
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π Image 61Max Beckmann, The Night (Die Nacht), 1918β1919, Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, DΓΌsseldorf (from History of painting)Max Beckmann, The Night (Die Nacht), 1918β1919, Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, DΓΌsseldorf (from History of painting)
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Major topics
- Types of visual art β Architecture β’ Art intervention β’ Ceramic art β’ Computer art β’ Drawing β’ Fashion β’ Film β’ Installation art β’ Land art β’ Mixed media β’ Painting β’ Performance art β’ Photography β’ Printmaking β’ Sculpture β’ Stained glass; β’ Artists' Books
- Art history β Pre-historic art β’ Ancient art β’ Art of Ancient Egypt β’ Art in Ancient Greece β’ Minoan pottery β’ Scythian art β’ Roman art β’ Women artists
- Western art periods and movements β Medieval art β’ Gothic art β’ Renaissance β’ Mannerism β’ Baroque β’ Rococo β’ Neoclassicism β’ Romanticism β’ Realism β’ Modern Art β’ Impressionism β’ Symbolism β’ Fauvism β’ Proto-Cubism β’ Cubism β’ Futurism β’ Dada β’ Art Deco β’ Surrealism β’ Abstract Expressionism β’ Lyrical abstraction β’ Conceptual Art β’ Contemporary Art β’ Postmodern art visual arts.
- Eastern and Middle Eastern art β Buddhist art β’ Chinese art β’ Islamic art β’ Japanese art β’ Laotian art β’ Thai art β’ Tibetan art
- Lists β Architects β’ Art movements β’ Art periods β’ Painters β’ Printmakers β’ Sculptors β’ Statues
- Lists of basic topics β Visual arts β’ Architecture β’ Film β’ Painting β’ Photography β’ Sculpture
Subcategories
Architecture | Ceramic art | Comics | Crafts | Design | Drawing | Illustration | Film | Glass | Graphic design | Industrial design | Landscape architecture | Multimedia | Painting | Photography | Pottery | Printmaking | Public art | Sculpture | Typography | Mosaic
Artists | Visual arts awards | Artist collectives | Art collectors | Art critics | Art curators | Visual arts exhibitions | Art forgery | Art history | Visual arts materials | Art schools | Artistic techniques |
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