Once upon a time, the Academy had special systematization of genres, especially in painting. History painting was the most appreciated theme, followed by portraits, landscape and still life. One of these genres was genre art. The easiest way of describing this genre is that it usually presents people doing something they usually do every day. Figurative and genre art can both picture people and animals in different life situations.
Figurative art is any form of art that has strong and recognizable references to the real world. The importance is given to perspective, volume, shape and structure. Artists use lines, shades, color and different materials to accentuate volume and perspective, or to achieve other effects. All techniques are accepted, as long as everything is based on the real world.
Although figuratism may contain different simplifications of the form, especially when it comes to paintings, this type of art is basically representational rather than abstract. Generally it may be said that figurative may be applied to all art before abstract. Today, this term is mostly used to define any art form that isn't abstract. In short, if you can tell what it is, it is definitely figuratism.
It doesn't matter what media is used. All are accepted, including oil, watercolor and pastel. People are the main subject, whether they have their clothes or not. Of course, some artists are more interested in describing particular emotions or moods, while others might be more focused on reality. Generally, all portraits that are recognizable are certainly figurative artworks.
The best example for this art-form is expressionism, but all other types can also be considered as figuratism, as long as they aren't abstract. For example, cubism. Although it belongs to abstract form, numerous artworks are actually figurative. Picasso is the best example for this. Although his artworks can sometimes be really distorted, you can still recognize the main subject. There are no special limitations.
So, there are two poles of figurative art. On one side there is the photo realism, where everything has to be exactly as it really is. Other extreme is almost unrecognizable figuration, which is nearly abstract. Cubism is a very good example of this second extreme. Take for example Picasso's work. When it comes to his analysis of woman's face, it doesn't look exactly as a face, but you can tell that it is.
Contemporary figurative art is really rich and imaginative. There are several interesting authors that deserve to be mentioned here, for example, Johan Van Mullem, Jas Knight, Marlene Dumas and others. Of course, you shouldn't forget to check Jenny Saville and John Currin. They all have very different approaches to their art, but you will be surprised how interesting and by all means valuable these artworks are.
Although this type of art, especially painting, was mostly neglected during twentieth century, it became more popular during eighties. Twentieth century was mainly about avant-garde movements, yes, but skills and crafts are popular again. One of the shiniest examples of this re-born art is definitely John Currin. This artist believes that art cannot be improved, that it can only be developed into something that will reflect the world of today.
Figurative art is any form of art that has strong and recognizable references to the real world. The importance is given to perspective, volume, shape and structure. Artists use lines, shades, color and different materials to accentuate volume and perspective, or to achieve other effects. All techniques are accepted, as long as everything is based on the real world.
Although figuratism may contain different simplifications of the form, especially when it comes to paintings, this type of art is basically representational rather than abstract. Generally it may be said that figurative may be applied to all art before abstract. Today, this term is mostly used to define any art form that isn't abstract. In short, if you can tell what it is, it is definitely figuratism.
It doesn't matter what media is used. All are accepted, including oil, watercolor and pastel. People are the main subject, whether they have their clothes or not. Of course, some artists are more interested in describing particular emotions or moods, while others might be more focused on reality. Generally, all portraits that are recognizable are certainly figurative artworks.
The best example for this art-form is expressionism, but all other types can also be considered as figuratism, as long as they aren't abstract. For example, cubism. Although it belongs to abstract form, numerous artworks are actually figurative. Picasso is the best example for this. Although his artworks can sometimes be really distorted, you can still recognize the main subject. There are no special limitations.
So, there are two poles of figurative art. On one side there is the photo realism, where everything has to be exactly as it really is. Other extreme is almost unrecognizable figuration, which is nearly abstract. Cubism is a very good example of this second extreme. Take for example Picasso's work. When it comes to his analysis of woman's face, it doesn't look exactly as a face, but you can tell that it is.
Contemporary figurative art is really rich and imaginative. There are several interesting authors that deserve to be mentioned here, for example, Johan Van Mullem, Jas Knight, Marlene Dumas and others. Of course, you shouldn't forget to check Jenny Saville and John Currin. They all have very different approaches to their art, but you will be surprised how interesting and by all means valuable these artworks are.
Although this type of art, especially painting, was mostly neglected during twentieth century, it became more popular during eighties. Twentieth century was mainly about avant-garde movements, yes, but skills and crafts are popular again. One of the shiniest examples of this re-born art is definitely John Currin. This artist believes that art cannot be improved, that it can only be developed into something that will reflect the world of today.
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