Impressionism and Design Principles - Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key art movements, artists, design principles, and elements of art from the provided notes.

Impressionism

A 19th-century European art movement that sought to capture fleeting moments of light and color, often with visible brushstrokes and scenes from everyday life; originated in France with painters like Manet, Monet, and Renoir.

Post-Impressionism

An art movement that followed Impressionism, using vivid color and bold brushwork while emphasizing structure, geometry, and individual expression; artists include Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne.

Vincent van Gogh

Dutch post-Impressionist painter known for heavy brushstrokes, intense emotion, and vibrant colors; influential in the development of 20th-century art; famous works include Starry Night and The Sower.

Claude Monet

French Impressionist painter, one of the movement’s founders, renowned for landscapes and the effects of light, including water lilies and garden scenes.

Paul Cézanne

French post-Impressionist painter who emphasized geometric forms and structure; pivotal in bridging 19th-century Impressionism and 20th-century modernism.

Edouard Manet

Early figure bridging Realism to Impressionism; among the first to depict modern life in paintings that helped spark the movement.

Auguste Renoir

Impressionist painter famous for luminous color and lively scenes; later produced portraits with a more formal technique.

Line

A mark with length and direction, a basic element used to outline shapes and guide the viewer’s eye.

Shape

A two-dimensional area defined by edges or color; a fundamental element of art.

Form

A three-dimensional volume or mass that occupies space.

Color

The property of objects arising from the way they reflect light; includes hue, value, and intensity.

Value

The lightness or darkness of a color, contributing to contrast and mood.

Space

The area around, within, or between objects; can imply depth and perspective in a composition.

Texture

The surface quality of a material or the illusion of such quality in an artwork.

Perspective

A technique for creating the illusion of depth on a flat surface, often involving vanishing points.

Unity and Variety

Unity is the oneness and coherence of an artwork; variety introduces diversity to maintain interest while supporting harmony.

Contrast

The juxtaposition of dissimilar elements (e.g., light vs. dark, large vs. small) to create emphasis and interest.

Balance

Distribution of visual weight in a composition; can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Symmetrical Balance

A balance where both sides of a composition mirror each other.

Asymmetrical Balance

A balanced composition without mirror symmetry, achieved through careful arrangement of elements.

Emphasis

The creation of a focal point or area that attracts the viewer’s attention.

Subordination

Neutral or less important areas intentionally de-emphasized to prevent distraction from the main emphasis.

Repetition

The reuse of visual elements to create unity, rhythm, and continuity.

Rhythm

A visual pattern created by the regular recurrence of elements with related variations.

Scale

The relative size of objects in relation to one another.

Proportion

The size relationship of parts to a whole within a composition.

Juxtaposition

Placing two or more elements side by side to highlight contrasts or comparisons.

Design

The process of organizing visual elements and the resulting product or plan of artwork.

Starry Night

Vincent van Gogh’s 1889 painting depicting a swirling night sky; interpreted as reflecting his struggle with illness and the hope to overcome it (dark areas = problems, bright areas = hope).