Visual Arts

These are the arts that meet the eye and evoke an emotion through an expression of skill and imagination. They include the most ancient forms, such as painting and drawing, and the arts that were born thanks to the development of technology, like sculpture, printmaking, photography, and installation art. Though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, different eras in art history have had their own principles to define beauty, from the richly ornamented taste of the Baroque to the simple utilitarian style of the Prairie School.
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Featured content, December 06, 2024

What’s the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary Art?
Is that odd installation piece that rains on you when you get near it modern or contemporary art? Here are some tips on how...
7 Accomplished Paintings in Moscow
Learn before you look.
Why Is the Statue of Liberty a Woman?
Learn why the Statue of Liberty depicts a woman, including a brief history of female personification in Europe.
history of photography
History of photography, method of recording the image of an object through the action of light, or related radiation, on...
Wassily Kandinsky
Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian-born artist, one of the first creators of pure abstraction in modern painting. After successful...
Mesopotamian art and architecture
Mesopotamian art and architecture, the art and architecture of the ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. The name Mesopotamia...
naïve art
Naïve art, work of artists in sophisticated societies who lack or reject conventional expertise in the representation or...

Visual Arts Quizzes

Ultimate Art Quiz
From symbolism to sculpture, this quiz will put you in touch with your artistic side.
Artists, Painters, & Architects
Who picked up a paintbrush, chisel, or piece of clay to create the world’s most famous works of art? Draw on your knowledge...
Art & Architecture: Fact or Fiction?
What purpose do gargoyles serve? What is gesso used for? Sort fact from fiction in art and architecture.
Paris at Random
What ballet caused an opening night riot in Paris? Which Parisian singer popularized the chanson? Test your knowledge about...
Mythology, Legend, and Folklore
According to American folklore, who dug out the Grand Canyon? From Egyptian gods to Norse heroes, dig out the facts in this...
Greek Mythology and Legend: Fact or Fiction?
In the legends concerning the Trojan War, were the Greek gods neutral? Sort through the facts of winged and wooden horses...
Dance
From the graceful movements of ballet to the flapping frenzy of the Charleston, tap your feet—and scratch your head—in this...
This or That? Painter vs. Architect
Think you know your artists? Try to remember if these famous names were painters or architects.
Ballet: Fact or Fiction?
What is a pirouette? Where does ballet terminology come from? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
Meet the Futurists
Think you know Futurism? Test your knowledge of the important people, places, and works with this quiz.
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Visual Arts
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Visual Arts Subcategories

Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa Architecture
Architecture is a sphere of art and design in which functionality and aesthetics can combine to produce visually stunning structures that manage to both catch the eye and serve a functional purpose. The expansive variety of architectural styles that have been employed throughout the ages underscores the fact that not every building need look the same, a principle that is readily apparent when comparing Gothic cathedrals with igloos or pagodas with cliff dwellings. Although architecture is commonly associated first and foremost with the design and construction of buildings, landscape architects may work with gardens, parks, and other planned outdoor areas, aiding in the development and decorative planning of such spaces.
Articles
subcategory placeholder Arts Awards
Awards such as the Praemium Imperiale and the Pritzker Prize honor artists for a job well done.
Articles
interior of a Kabuki theater Decorative Art
People appreciate the usefulness of things like glassware and furniture, but they appreciate such objects even more when they’re aesthetically pleasing, too. That’s where decorative art comes in. Explore the world of basketry, metalwork, pottery, interior design, tapestry, and more.
Articles
Hans Holbein the Younger: portrait of Henry VIII Fashion & Personal Adornment
Looking to make a statement without ever saying a word? Fashion designers know that clothing and accessories can speak volumes about the wearer, affecting both how the wearer is perceived by others and how the wearer perceives of him- or herself. The fashion industry has become a multibillion-dollar global enterprise devoted to the business of making and selling clothes; it thrives by being diverse and flexible enough to gratify any consumer's desire to embrace or reject fashionability, however that term might be defined.
Articles
William Blake Graphic Art
Calligraphy, graffiti, engraving, caricature: graphic art's domain stretches as far as the eye can see. Take a look at some of the other types of graphic art, and learn more about the artists working within this category of fine arts.
Articles
James Turrell Installation & Performance Art
audience" could consist of onlookers on the street or patrons browsing the halls of a museum, among countless other possibilities.
Articles
Vincent van Gogh: The Large Plane Trees (Road Menders at Saint-Rémy) Painting
Need help distinguishing your Picassos from your Monets? Learn about history’s celebrated painters and the different styles, techniques, mediums, and forms that have been used to create such unique visual images as Salvador Dalí’s melting clock and the ever-shifting eyes of Leonardo da Vinci’s enigmatic Mona Lisa.
Articles
Dada exhibit Photography
Photography’s history began long before we were snapping pictures on camera phones. Learn about the masters of the craft and explore the development of photographic technology as it progressed through daguerreotypes and tintypes on the way to modern day’s increasingly sophisticated digital cameras.
Articles
Constantin Brancusi Sculpture
Looking to find a use for that extra clay, stone, plaster, or metal that you have lying around? Consider sculpture, in which artists employ these materials and others to create three-dimensional art. Perhaps you’ll join the ranks of noted sculptors such as Michelangelo, Auguste Rodin, and Donatello.
Articles
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