Representational, Abstract, and Nonre presentational

Art

Key Points

Painting, sculpture, and other artforms can be divided into the categories
of representational (sometimes also called figurative art although it doesn’t always
contain figures), abstract and nonrepresentational art. Representational art describes
artworks—particularly paintings and sculptures–that are clearly derived from real object
sources, and therefore are by definition representing something with strong visual
references to the real world. Most, but not all, abstract art is based on imagery from the
real world. The most “extreme” form of abstract art is not connected to the visible world
and is known as nonrepresentational.

 Representational art or figurative art represents objects or events in the real

world, usually looking easily recognizable. For example, a painting of a cat looks
very much like a cat– it’s quite obvious what the artist is depicting.
 Romanticism, Impressionism, and Expressionism contributed to the
emergence of abstract art in the nineteenth century as artists became less
interested in depicting things exactly like they really exist. Abstract art exists on a
continuum, from somewhat representational work, to work that is so far removed
from its actual real-world appearance that it is almost impossible to easily discern
what is being represented. Abstract art is always connected to something visual
from the real world.
 Work that does not depict anything from the real world (figures, landscapes,
animals, etc.) is called nonrepresentational. Nonrepresentational art may simply
depict shapes, colors, lines, etc., but may also express things that are not visible–
emotions or feelings for example.

Johann Anton Eismann, Meerhaven. 17th c. Work is in the public domain

This figurative or representational work from the seventeenth century depicts easily
recognizable objects–ships, people, and buildings. But artistic independence was
advanced during the nineteenth century, resulting in the emergence of abstract art.
Three movements that contributed heavily to the development of these were
Romanticism, Impressionism, and Expressionism.

Abstraction indicates a departure from reality in depiction of imagery in art. Abstraction

exists along a continuum; abstract art can formally refer to compositions that are
derived (or abstracted) from a figurative or other natural source. (Some people also use
this term to refer to nonrepresentational (non-objective) art that has no derivation from
figures or objects. However, in this class we do not the term abstract like this.) Picasso
is a well-known artist who used abstraction in many of his paintings and sculptures:
figures are often simplified, distorted, exaggerated, or geometric.

Pablo Picasso, Girl Before a Mirror, 1932, MOMA

Photo by Sharon Mollerus CC BY

Even art that aims for verisimilitude (accuracy and truthfulness) of the highest degree
can be said to be abstract, at least theoretically, since perfect representation is likely to
be exceedingly elusive. Artwork which takes liberties, altering for instance color and
form in ways that are conspicuous, can be said to be partially abstract.

Robert Delaunay, Le Premier Disque, 1913. Work is in the public domain

Delaunay’s work is a primary example of early nonrepresentational art, bearing no trace

of any reference to anything recognizable from the real world. In nonrepresentational
art, for instance, one is unlikely to find references to naturalistic entities.

Figurative art and nonrepresentational art are almost mutually exclusive. But
representational (or realistic) art often contains partial abstraction. As you see, these
terms are bit confusing, but do your best to understand the basic definitions of
representational, abstract and nonrepresentational.