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Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - Forms & Styles of Art

Here you will learn some English words about art, such as "ceramics", "tableau", "batik", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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Essential Words Needed for the GRE

the activity of sewing decorative patterns onto a piece of clothing

Ex: The handmade quilt was a labor of love , with each square meticulously embellished embroidery depicting scenes from nature .
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the art of producing beautiful handwriting using special writing instruments such as a dip or brush pen

Ex: Modern calligraphers often blend traditional techniques with contemporary designs to create stunning artworks.
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carving
[noun]

the art or process of making a particular pattern or object by cutting solid material

Ex: The art class focused on teaching students the basics of carving for pottery .
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engraving
[noun]

the art or process of carving an artistic shape or pattern on a hard material

Ex: The artist specialized in engravings, creating stunning prints that captured the beauty of the natural world .
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ceramics
[noun]

the process or art of making objects out of clay that are heated to become resistant

Ex: Ceramics involve firing clay in a kiln at high temperatures to achieve strength and durability .
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origami
[noun]

the practice or art of folding paper into desired shapes, which is originated from Japanese culture

Ex: He developed a passion origami after visiting Japan and experiencing its cultural significance firsthand .
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the art or act of making portraits of people

Ex: The artist 's studio specializes in portraiture for clients worldwide .
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tapestry
[noun]

a thick piece of handwoven textile with designs or pictures on it that is used for hangings, curtains, etc.

Ex: He admired tapestry in the church , which depicted scenes from biblical stories .
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collage
[noun]

the art of making pictures by sticking photographs, pieces of cloth or colored paper onto a surface

Ex: The gallery collages depicting nature scenes made from pressed flowers and leaves .
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mural
[noun]

a large painting done on a wall

Ex: The ancient cave paintings discovered in France are some of the earliest known examples murals depicting daily life and hunting scenes .
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tableau
[noun]

a group of models or statues arranged in an artistic way, representing a famous historical or fictitious scene

Ex: The artist 's latest installation transformed a vacant storefront into a tableau of urban decay , with broken mannequins and discarded objects arranged to evoke a sense of desolation and abandonment .
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a painting or drawing, representing objects that do not move, such as flowers, glassware, etc.

Ex: The photographer arranged seashells and driftwood for still life photo shoot , creating a tranquil and naturalistic composition .
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a 20th-century style of art and literature in which unrelated events or images are combined in an unusual way to represent the experiences of the mind

Ex: The film 's narrative , influenced surrealism, unfolds like a dream , with disjointed scenes and strange juxtapositions that challenge the viewer 's sense of reality .
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symbolism
[noun]

a late 19th-century style or movement of art that tried to express thoughts and states of mind in strong words and images, called symbols, and avoided detailed representations of the reality

Ex: Symbolism in art often uses mythical creatures and dreamlike landscapes to convey deeper meanings .
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abstract
[Adjective]

(of a form of art) showing forms, colors, or shapes that do not represent real-world objects, focusing on ideas or emotions instead

Ex: The gallery featured an exhibit abstract paintings that challenged traditional notions of representation .
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Baroque
[noun]

an ornate and grand style of art, music, and architecture present in the 17th and early 18th centuries in Europe

Ex: The Baroque period was a time of great artistic innovation and cultural achievement, leaving a lasting legacy of grandeur and opulence in European art, music, and architecture.
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batik
[noun]

‌a technique used to color designs on fabrics in which wax is applied to the parts that should be left undyed, originally used in the island of Java, Indonesia

Ex: The museum featured exhibits showcasing the evolution of batik across different cultures .
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a style of art and literature associated with harmony, simplicity, and beauty based on the standards of ancient Greece and Rome, Classicism was popular in Europe from the Renaissance to the 18th century

Ex: The museum 's collection includes several masterpieces classicism.
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a drawing that depicts the outline of someone or something that is in a single black color and against a light background, often from the side

Ex: She used a projector to trace silhouette drawing of her beloved pet onto a canvas , capturing every detail of its outline .
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charcoal
[noun]

a piece or pencil made of a black substance mostly consisting carbon, used by artists for drawing

Ex: The student practiced still life drawing charcoal.
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crayon
[noun]

a small stick of white or colored wax or chalk, used for writing or drawing

Ex: They used a crayon to draw on black paper .
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mannerism
[noun]

a European style of art in the late 16th century characterized by hyper-idealization and distorted human forms

Ex: Mannerism's exaggerated style and theatrical flair appealed to the tastes of the aristocracy and elite patrons of the late Renaissance period.
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figurative
[Adjective]

representing people, animals and objects and forms as they appear in the real world

Ex: Figurative art often tells a story through realistic imagery .
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‌a style of art, music, or design that arose in the 1950s and is associated with simplicity and uses only a limited number of elements

Ex: Minimalism in music often features repetitive structures .
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a public exhibition of an artist's work over a period of time, showing their career development

Ex: They attended a retrospective celebrating the sculptor's lifelong achievements.
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the technique of representing a two-dimensional object in a way that gives the right impression of distance by drawing objects and people that are farther in a smaller size

Ex: The instructor perspective to improve the students ' spatial accuracy .
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palette
[noun]

a thin oval board that a painter uses to mix colors and hold pigments on, with a hole for the thumb to go through

Ex: The art student learned how to hold palette comfortably while practicing color theory and painting techniques in class .
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pigment
[noun]

a dry substance that has to be mixed with a liquid to produce paint

Ex: The workshop taught participants how to make their pigment.
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muse
[noun]

a source of inspiration for an artist or author that gives them ideas or motivates them to create works of art

Ex: The changing seasons were muse, each one evoking new colors and textures in her artwork .
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likeness
[noun]

a portrait or representation of someone, especially one that looks just like them

Ex: The actor 's wax figure bore a likeness to him .
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patron
[noun]

an individual who financially supports an artist, charity, cause, etc.

Ex: Recognizing the importance of education , the generous couple patrons of a scholarship fund , offering financial assistance to deserving students .
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curator
[noun]

someone who is in charge of a museum, taking care of a collection, artwork, etc.

Ex: curator's expertise in art history ensures accurate interpretation of the museum 's exhibits .
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harmony
[noun]

a pleasing combination of things in a way that forms a coherent whole

Ex: The landscape artist captured the harmony of the scene , depicting the peaceful coexistence of land , water , and sky .
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impasto
[noun]

a painting technique in which paint is applied so thickly to the canvas or panel that the brush strokes are visible

Ex: The workshop on impasto techniques attracted aspiring artists eager to learn how to use texture and color to convey emotion and mood in their paintings.
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icon
[noun]

a depiction of Jesus Christ or a holy figure painted on a wooden panel often on a gilded background, venerated by the Eastern Orthodox Church

Ex: Monks carefully restored the icon of the Transfiguration of Christ .
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bust
[noun]

a sculpture representing someone's head, shoulders, and chest

Ex: The museum curator carefully examined the bust, noting the intricate details and craftsmanship that made it a masterpiece of classical sculpture .
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to sculpt
[Verb]

to form figures and objects by cutting and carving hard materials such as wood, stone, metal, etc.

Ex: The ancient sculpted colossal statues from stone to honor their gods .
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the act of repairing something such as an artwork, building, etc. to be in its original state

Ex: After the hurricane , the town prioritized restoration of the damaged library , ensuring that the historic structure was preserved for future generations .
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shading
[noun]

lines and markings in dark color that provide the effect of light and shade in a drawing or painting

Ex: The art teacher demonstrated different methods of shading using pencils and charcoal.
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the greatest literary or artistic piece that an author or artist has created

Ex: The novelistmagnum opus, a sweeping epic that spans generations , has been celebrated for its intricate plot and richly developed characters .
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pottery
[noun]

the skill or activity of making dishes, pots, etc. using clay

Ex: Pottery has a rich history spanning cultures and civilizations .
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taxidermy
[noun]

the art of preserving the dead body of animals by skinning and then filling them with a specific substance in order to use them as decoration

Ex: The natural history museum features a section dedicated to the art and science taxidermy.
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the activity or art of skillfully using one’s hand to create attractive objects

Ex: Mastering handicraft of leatherworking requires years of experience .
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