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 Vocabulary for the GRE

the activity of sewing decorative patterns onto a piece of clothing

Ex: He personalized his denim jacket with colorful embroidery , stitching his initials and favorite symbols onto the back .

the art of producing beautiful handwriting using special writing instruments such as a dip or brush pen

Ex: She received compliments on her wedding invitations , which featured elegant calligraphy in gold ink .
carving [noun]

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

Ex: The master carver demonstrated his technique for intricate floral carving on furniture .

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

Ex: She admired the intricate engravings on the silver tea set , marveling at the precision and craftsmanship of each piece .
ceramics [noun]

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

Ex: The artist used a potter 's wheel to shape the clay for her ceramics project .
origami [noun]

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

Ex:

the art or act of making portraits of people

Ex: Portraiture has evolved from traditional painting to include photography and digital art .
tapestry [noun]

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

Ex: The museum displayed ancient tapestries from different cultures , each telling a unique story .
collage [noun]

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

Ex: His collage combined old family photographs with handwritten letters for a nostalgic effect .
mural [noun]

a large painting done on a wall

Ex: She admired the intricate details of the mural that adorned the side of the library , showcasing scenes from classic literature .
tableau [noun]

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

Ex: The theater production opened with a stunning tableau of the royal court , capturing the opulence and intrigue of a bygone era through elaborate costumes and striking set design .

a painting or drawing, representing objects that do not move, such as flowers, glassware, etc.

Ex: The museum 's collection included classic still life artworks by renowned painters like Caravaggio and Cézanne .

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:

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 emerged as a reaction against the realism and naturalism of the 19th century .
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 dancers performed a mesmerizing abstract routine , blending fluid movements with unexpected angles and shapes .
Baroque [noun]

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

Ex:
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:

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 painting reflects classicism with its balanced composition and serene beauty .

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: The artist created a stunning silhouette drawing of a dancer in mid-leap , capturing the grace and motion with minimal lines .
charcoal [noun]

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

Ex: His portrait in charcoal was the highlight of the exhibit .
crayon [noun]

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

Ex: She picked up a yellow crayon to color the sun .

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

Ex: The mannerism movement influenced not only painting but also sculpture , architecture , and literature , leaving its mark on European art and culture in the late 16th century .
figurative [adjective]

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

Ex: His figurative sculptures were highly detailed and lifelike .

‌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 architecture often involves open spaces and clean lines .

a public exhibition of an artist's work over a period of time, showing their career development

Ex: A retrospective of her work will open at the art gallery next month .

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: She learned perspective to enhance the 3D effect in her artwork .
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 painter 's palette featured compartments for different colors of acrylic paint , ensuring easy access and organization during the artwork .
pigment [noun]

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

Ex: She ground the pigment into a fine powder before mixing .
muse [noun]

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

Ex: Nature served as his muse , guiding his sculptural interpretations of animals and plants .
likeness [noun]

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

Ex: The artist sketched a quick likeness of the passerby in her notebook .
patron [noun]

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

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

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

Ex: The curator organized a special exhibition featuring rare manuscripts from the library 's archives .
harmony [noun]

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

Ex: The architect designed the building with a sense of harmony , ensuring that each element complemented the others .
impasto [noun]

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

Ex: She experimented with impasto in her oil paintings , building up layers of paint to create a tactile surface that invited viewers to explore the artwork with their senses .
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: The museum exhibited a collection of rare icons dating back to the 12th century .
bust [noun]

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

Ex: The bust of the famous poet was prominently displayed in the library , inspiring visitors with its lifelike detail and expression .

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

Ex: The sculptor sculpted a lifelike animal out of wood with precise detailing .

the act of repairing something such as an artwork, building, etc. to be in its original state

Ex: The museum 's conservation team focused on the restoration of a 17th-century painting , carefully removing layers of grime and old varnish .
shading [noun]

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

Ex: The shading around the edges of the vase emphasized its three-dimensional form .

the greatest literary or artistic piece that an author or artist has created

Ex: The filmmaker 's latest movie has been hailed as his magnum opus , combining stunning visuals and a compelling narrative to create a cinematic masterpiece .
pottery [noun]

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

Ex: His pottery workshop produces unique vases and sculptures .

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: His fascination with taxidermy led him to create lifelike displays of birds and mammals .

the activity or art of skillfully using one’s hand to create attractive objects

Ex: Wood carving is a traditional handicraft that has been practiced for centuries .