Origin, Contemporary Art, Philippine Context, and Critique: Key Terms

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering origins of art, the evolution to contemporary art, forms within contemporary practice, Philippine art context, and basic art criticism steps.

Gustave Courbet

Father of Realism; French painter who championed depicting ordinary life and social realities.

Paul Cézanne

Father of Modern Art; post-impressionist painter who influenced the development of modernism.

Modern Art

Art movement roughly 1800s–1970s that rejected traditional techniques, embracing experimentation and new forms.

Contemporary Art

Art from roughly 1930s to present; defined by present-day artists and the exploration of new ideas and media.

Modern Art as a Breaker of Norms

Modern art challenges conventional ideas, is radical/innovative, uses mixed/non-traditional media, and often involves appropriation.

Contemporary Art as a Critique of Society

Art that reflects and engages with technological, economic, and socio‑economic issues within society.

Painting (Form of Contemporary Art)

2D expressive language using shapes, lines, colors, tones, and textures to suggest volume and light on a flat surface.

Sculpture

3D artworks formed from hard or soft materials; freestanding or relief; created by carving, modeling, casting, welding, sewing, and assembling.

Architecture

Art and technique of designing and constructing buildings; combines practicality, aesthetics, sustainability, safety, and communicative form.

Photography

From Greek photo (light) and graph (to draw); the process of recording images with light-sensitive media.

Installation Art

Also called environments; artwork that occupies an entire room or space for immersive experience.

Digital Art

Art that uses digital technology in creation, enhancement, or exhibition (digital drawings, videos, 3D works, etc.).

Performance Art

Art expressed through action; performed live or recorded; often an event rather than a discrete artwork.

Literature

Expression of ideas and experiences through words; from Latin littera.

Crafts (Handicrafts)

Objects made by hand for practical use; can be worn, eaten from, or used as products.

Contemporary Philippine Art Context

Philippine art today, shaped by everyday life, regional styles, and influences from Spain and the USA.

Identity in Art

What defines a country’s art: religion, society, and history.

Art Criticism

The study, appreciation, and judgement of art; relates themes to personal experience and invites interpretation.

Description (Critique Step 1)

A simple, first-glance description of what you see in a painting.

Analysis (Critique Step 2)

A detailed look at the artwork’s elements and their meanings.

Interpretation (Critique Step 3)

Ascribing meaning or narrative to the artwork and relating it to broader contexts.

Judgement (Critique Step 4)

Final assessment of the artwork’s merit; includes reflexive evaluation.

2D (Two-Dimensional)

Surface with length and width; flat.

3D (Three-Dimensional)

Form with volume and depth; can be freestanding.

Elements of Painting

Shapes, lines, colors, tones, and textures used to create volume, weight, movement, space, or light on a flat surface.

Environments (Installation Art)

Another term for installation artworks that immerse viewers in a space.