Grade 9 Art - Day 73: "Representational, Abstract and Non-Representational Art"

As we build our lexicon of terms related to visual art, I wanted to break down the differences between Representational, Abstract, and Non-Representational Art.

Representational Art is meant to be a direct representation of something in the real world, such a realistic landscape painting or battle scene.

David Abed, Still Life with Brown Jug

Abstract Art is meant to be an abstraction from what is considered to be realistic. The form or subject may still be recognizable. Rudolph Arnheim, in Visual Thinking stated "Abstract art uses a visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world."

Pablo Picasso, Girl Before a Mirror

Non-Representational art does not use imagery, symbols, or subjects that may be found in the natural visual world.  It is essentially non-recognizable, borrowing nothing that you might recognize from reality.

Source: http://fineartamerica.com/