Figurative art, sometimes written as figurativism, describes artwork (particularly paintings and sculptures) that is clearly derived from real object sources and so is, by definition, representational. The term is often in contrast to abstract art:
Ein Meerhafen ("A Seaport"), a figurative landscape by the Austrian artist Johann Anton Eismann (1604–1698), which depicts buildings, people, ships, and other features that can be distinguished individually; by contrast, the abstract landscape below suggests its subject matter without directly representing it
Since the arrival of abstract art the term figurative has been used to refer to any form of modern art that retains strong references to the real world.[1]
Painting and sculpture can therefore be divided into the categories of figurative, representational and abstract, although, strictly speaking, abstract art is derived (or abstracted) from a figurative or other natural source. However, "abstract" is sometimes used as a synonym for non-representational art and non-objective art, i.e. art which has no derivation from figures or objects.
Figurative art is not synonymous with figure painting (art that represents the human figure), although human and animal figures are frequent subjects.
The formal elements, those aesthetic effects created by design, upon which figurative art is dependent, include line, shape, color, light and dark, mass, volume, texture, and perspective,[2] although these elements of design could also play a role in creating other types of imagery—for instance abstract, or non-representational or non-objective two-dimensional artwork. The difference is that in figurative art these elements are deployed to create an impression or illusion of form and space, and, usually, to create emphasis in the narrative portrayed.
Sleeping Venus (a.k.a. Dresden Venus)
First known reclining nude in Western Art. Introduced the female nude as subject.
Figurative art is itself based upon a tacit understanding of abstracted shapes: the figure sculpture of Greekantiquity was not naturalistic, for its forms were idealized and geometric.[3]Ernst Gombrich referred to the strictures of this schematic imagery, the adherence to that which was already known, rather than that which is seen, as the "Egyptian method", an allusion to the memory-based clarity of imagery in Egyptian art.[4] Eventually idealization gave way to observation, and a figurative art which balanced ideal geometry with greater realism was seen in Classical sculpture by 480 B.C.[3] The Greeks referred to the reliance on visual observation as mimesis. Until the time of the Impressionists, figurative art was characterized by attempts to reconcile these opposing principles.[4]
From the early Renaissance, Mannerism and the Baroque through 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century painting Figurative art has steadily broadened its parameters. An important landmark in the evolution of figurative art is the first known reclining nude in Western painting in Sleeping Venus (1510) by Giorgione.[5] It introduced the female nude as subject and started a long line of famous paintings.
In November, 2018, scientists reported the discovery of the oldest known figurative art painting, over 40,000 (perhaps as old as 52,000) years old, of an unknown animal, in the cave of Lubang Jeriji Saléh on the Indonesian island of Borneo.[6][7]
^Zimmer, Carl (7 November 2018). "In Cave in Borneo Jungle, Scientists Find Oldest Figurative Painting in the World - A cave drawing in Borneo is at least 40,000 years old, raising intriguing questions about creativity in ancient societies". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^Aubert, M.; et al. (7 November 2018). "Palaeolithic cave art in Borneo". Nature. 564 (7735): 254–257. Bibcode:2018Natur.564..254A. doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0679-9. PMID 30405242. S2CID 53208538. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
figurative, sometimes, written, figurativism, describes, artwork, particularly, paintings, sculptures, that, clearly, derived, from, real, object, sources, definition, representational, term, often, contrast, abstract, meerhafen, seaport, figurative, landscape. Figurative art sometimes written as figurativism describes artwork particularly paintings and sculptures that is clearly derived from real object sources and so is by definition representational The term is often in contrast to abstract art Ein Meerhafen A Seaport a figurative landscape by the Austrian artist Johann Anton Eismann 1604 1698 which depicts buildings people ships and other features that can be distinguished individually by contrast the abstract landscape below suggests its subject matter without directly representing itUntitled abstract expressionist landscape by the American artist Jay Meuser 1911 1963 Since the arrival of abstract art the term figurative has been used to refer to any form of modern art that retains strong references to the real world 1 Painting and sculpture can therefore be divided into the categories of figurative representational and abstract although strictly speaking abstract art is derived or abstracted from a figurative or other natural source However abstract is sometimes used as a synonym for non representational art and non objective art i e art which has no derivation from figures or objects Figurative art is not synonymous with figure painting art that represents the human figure although human and animal figures are frequent subjects Contents 1 Formal elements 2 Evolution 3 Architecture townscape 4 History painting 5 Human forms 6 Landscape seascape 7 Still life 8 Cave painting 9 See also 10 Notes and references 11 External linksFormal elements EditThe formal elements those aesthetic effects created by design upon which figurative art is dependent include line shape color light and dark mass volume texture and perspective 2 although these elements of design could also play a role in creating other types of imagery for instance abstract or non representational or non objective two dimensional artwork The difference is that in figurative art these elements are deployed to create an impression or illusion of form and space and usually to create emphasis in the narrative portrayed Sleeping Venus a k a Dresden Venus First known reclining nude in Western Art Introduced the female nude as subject ArtistGiorgioneYearc 1510Dimensions108 5 175 cm 42 7 69 in Evolution Edit Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres Le Bain Turc The Turkish bath 1862 oil on canvas 108 110 cm Louvre Paris Figurative art is itself based upon a tacit understanding of abstracted shapes the figure sculpture of Greek antiquity was not naturalistic for its forms were idealized and geometric 3 Ernst Gombrich referred to the strictures of this schematic imagery the adherence to that which was already known rather than that which is seen as the Egyptian method an allusion to the memory based clarity of imagery in Egyptian art 4 Eventually idealization gave way to observation and a figurative art which balanced ideal geometry with greater realism was seen in Classical sculpture by 480 B C 3 The Greeks referred to the reliance on visual observation as mimesis Until the time of the Impressionists figurative art was characterized by attempts to reconcile these opposing principles 4 From the early Renaissance Mannerism and the Baroque through 18th 19th and 20th century painting Figurative art has steadily broadened its parameters An important landmark in the evolution of figurative art is the first known reclining nude in Western painting in Sleeping Venus 1510 by Giorgione 5 It introduced the female nude as subject and started a long line of famous paintings Nicolas Poussin 1594 1665 a French painter in the classical style whose work predominantly features clarity logic and order and favors line over color served as an alternative to the more narrative Baroque style of the 17th century He was a major inspiration for such classically oriented artists as Jacques Louis David Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres and Paul Cezanne The rise of the Neoclassical art of Jacques Louis David ultimately engendered the realistic reactions of Gustave Courbet and Edouard Manet leading to the multi faceted figurative art of the 20th century In November 2018 scientists reported the discovery of the oldest known figurative art painting over 40 000 perhaps as old as 52 000 years old of an unknown animal in the cave of Lubang Jeriji Saleh on the Indonesian island of Borneo 6 7 Architecture townscape EditMain article Architecture painting Albrecht Durer 1494 Courtyard of Innsbruck Castle Jan van der Heyden 1652 The Church at Veere Canaletto c 1737 View of the Piazzetta and The Bassin of San Marco in Venice Burgos Cathedral 1851 by Francois Bossuet History painting EditMain article History painting Paolo Uccello 1438 1440 The Battle of San Romano Jacques Louis David 1786 Oath of the Horatii John Everett Millais 1854 1860 Christ In The House Of His Parents Lawrence Alma Tadema 1872 The Egyptian WidowHuman forms EditMain articles Figure painting and Sculpture Ancient Roman woman on a balcony 9 14 CE Getty Villa Kenyon Cox 1896 Nude study Joseph Csaky 1911 1912 Groupe de femmes Group of Women plaster Raymond Duchamp Villon 1914 Femme assise plaster Ian Hornak 1978 Marcia Sewing Variation III ʿAin Ghazal statues from approximately 9000 years ago David 1504 by Michelangelo Seated Dress Impression with Drapery 2005 by Karen LaMonte Mother and her child by Leah Michlson Landscape seascape EditMain article Landscape art Pieter Bruegel the Elder 1565 The Harvesters J M W Turner 1839 The Fighting Temeraire Claude Monet 1886 Rain at Eretat Wheat Field with Crows 1890 by Vincent van Gogh Palo Duro Canyon 1916 by Georgia O KeeffeStill life EditMain article Still life Alexander Coosemans c 1660 Still Life with Lobster and Oysters Paul Cezanne 1879 Nature morte au compotier Henri Matisse 1899 Still Life with Compote Apples and Oranges Still Life with Parrot and Flag 1951 by Frida KahloCave painting EditMain article Cave painting Upper Paleolithic art c 17 300 years old showing aurochs horses and deer Lascaux France Neolithic rock art over 7 000 years old Cave of Beasts EgyptSee also EditAbstract art Illustration Narrative art Neofigurative Art Realism arts StuckismNotes and references Edit Tate Glossary Figurative Archived from the original on 3 February 2012 Retrieved 21 October 2012 Adams Laurie Schneider The Methodologies of Art pages 17 19 Westview Press 1996 a b Clark Kenneth The Nude A Study in Ideal Form pages 31 2 Princeton University Press 1990 a b The Gombrich Archive Press statement on The Story of Art Archived October 6 2008 at the Wayback Machine Reclining Nude Ferrara Lidia G Di 1 ban ed London Thames amp Hudson 2002 ISBN 978 0500237977 OCLC 966186187 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link Zimmer Carl 7 November 2018 In Cave in Borneo Jungle Scientists Find Oldest Figurative Painting in the World A cave drawing in Borneo is at least 40 000 years old raising intriguing questions about creativity in ancient societies The New York Times Retrieved 8 November 2018 Aubert M et al 7 November 2018 Palaeolithic cave art in Borneo Nature 564 7735 254 257 Bibcode 2018Natur 564 254A doi 10 1038 s41586 018 0679 9 PMID 30405242 S2CID 53208538 Retrieved 8 November 2018 External links Edit Art portalFigurative art at TATE org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Figurative art amp oldid 1143481553, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
