What is a Diptych? A diptych is a term naming an artwork composed of two parts. The word comes from the Greek “dipthukos”, and the Late Latin “diptycha” meaning folded double. The two plates or panels, attached or hinged together, are either mobile or stationary. The panels are usually painted or carved with related illustrations. …
What is Fauvism? Fauvism was an art movement that flourished in France from 1905 to 1908. It was led by Henri Matisse (1869 – 1954) and André Derain (1880 – 1954). Other important Fauvists were Maurice de Vlaminck, Henri Charles Manguin, Othon Friesz, Kees van Dongen, Georges Braque, and Raoul Dufy. Their work was …
Fauvism Art Movement – History, Artists and Artwork Read More »
What is Action Painting? The action painting, also known as “gestural painting,” is a style of abstract painting in which paint is spontaneously dripped, smeared, splashed, or poured directly onto the canvas. It emerged in the 1940s in the US among a group of artists belonging to Abstract Expressionism, including Willem de Kooning (1904 …
Action Painting Art Movement: Artwork, Artists, History Read More »
What is a Triptych? A triptych – from the Greek ‘tri’ meaning three and ‘ptyx’ meaning fold – is a work of art in three sections. Commonly a triptych is painted on wood, composed of a central panel flanked by two hinged pieces on either side. The term itself originates from the 18th century. Before …
Cubism is a Western modern art movement that began around 1907 in Paris, France and started to decline in 1914 with the start of the First World War. Although the original Cubist movement changed dramatically during this time, its influence lived on in art movements like Futurism, Constructivism, Abstract Expressionism, and others. Cubism was led …
Cubism Art Movement – History, Artists, and Artwork Read More »
What is a Relief Sculpture? A “relief” sculpture is a sculpture where the foreground elements are attached to and made of the same material as the background. “Relief” comes from the latin root “relevo”, which means “to raise”, as the sculpted elements of the artwork are “raised” up from the background. These works are sometimes …
What is “Anastole”? “Anastole” is the Greek name for a hairstyle originally made popular by Alexander the Great during his reign in the 4th Century BC. The style can be seen in the many sculptures and paintings of Alexander the Great, including: The hairstyle involves hair flipped up away from the forehead, and Alexander …
