Glossary
Expression Theory
A 19th-century theory positing that art serves as a direct vehicle for expressing the artist's inner emotions, personal experiences, and subjective feelings, rather than merely representing external reality.
Example:
When an artist uses vibrant, clashing colors and distorted figures to convey intense sadness, they are applying Expression Theory to communicate their internal state.
Expressionism
An early 20th-century art movement directly influenced by Expression Theory, characterized by the use of distorted figures, strong colors, and emotional intensity to convey the artist's subjective inner world.
Example:
The bold, non-naturalistic colors and angular forms in works by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner are hallmarks of Expressionism, aiming to evoke a powerful emotional response.
Post-Modern Theory
A late 20th-century theoretical framework that questions traditional definitions of art, the artist's role, and viewer interpretation, often incorporating irony, appropriation, and a rejection of grand narratives.
Example:
When an artist recontextualizes a famous classical sculpture by placing it in a mundane, everyday setting, they are engaging with Post-Modern Theory by challenging established artistic hierarchies.
Post-Modernism
An art movement from the late 20th century that challenges traditional art values, embraces diverse perspectives, and often uses irony, appropriation, and pastiche to question established norms.
Example:
Jeff Koons's 'Balloon Dog' sculptures, which elevate kitsch and everyday objects to high art, are quintessential examples of Post-Modernism's playful yet critical approach to art.
Romanticism
An art movement from the late 18th to mid-19th century that emphasized emotion, individualism, and the glorification of nature, often linked to the concept of the sublime.
Example:
J.M.W. Turner's dramatic seascapes, with their turbulent skies and powerful waves, perfectly capture the emotional intensity and focus on nature characteristic of Romanticism.
The Sublime
An 18th-century aesthetic concept, emerging during Romanticism, that focuses on art's ability to evoke awe, terror, and a sense of the infinite, making the viewer feel small yet connected to something vast.
Example:
Standing before a towering mountain range, one might experience the sublime, feeling both overwhelmed by its scale and deeply moved by its grandeur.