Updated March 20, 2018
The word "representational," when used to describe a work of art, means that the work depicts something easily recognized by most people. Throughout our history as art-creating humans, most art
has been representational. Even when art was symbolic, or
non-figurative, it was usually representative of something. Abstract
(non-representational) art is a relatively recent invention and didn't
evolve until the early 20th-century.
What Makes Art Representational?
There are three basic types of art: representational, abstract, and
non-objective. Representational is the oldest, best-known, and most
popular of the three.
Abstract art typically starts with a subject that exists in the real
world but then presents those subjects in a new way. A
well-known example of abstract art is Picasso's Three Musicians. Anyone
looking at the painting would understand that its subjects are three
individuals with musical instruments–but neither the musicians nor their
instruments are intended to replicate reality.
Non-objective art does not, in any way, replicate or represent
reality. Instead, it explores color, texture, and other visual elements
without reference to natural or constructed world. Jackson Pollock,
whose work involved complex splatters of paint, is a good example of a
non-objective artist.
Representational art strives to depict reality. Because
representational artists are creative individuals, however, their work
need not look precisely like the object they are representing. For
example, Impressionist artists such as Renoir and Monet used patches of
color to create visually compelling, representative paintings of
gardens, people, and locations.
History of Representational Art
Representational art got its start many millennia ago with Late Paleolithic figurines and carvings. Venus of Willendorf,
while not too terribly realistic, is clearly meant to show the figure
of a woman. She was created around 25,000 years ago and is an excellent
example of the earliest representational art.
Ancient examples of representational art are often in the form of
sculptures, decorative friezes, bas-reliefs, and busts representing real
people, idealized gods, and scenes from nature. During the middle ages,
European artists focused largely on religious subjects.
During the Renaissance, major artists such as Michaelangelo and
Leonardo Da Vinci created extraordinarily realistic paintings and
sculptures. Artists were also commissioned to paint portraits of members
of the nobility. Some artists created workshops in which they trained
apprentices in their own style of painting.
By the 19th century, representative artists were beginning to
experiment with new ways of expressing themselves visually. They were
also exploring new subjects: instead of focusing on portraits,
landscapes, and religious subjects, artists experiments with socially
relevant topics related to the Industrial Revolution.
Present Status
Representational art is thriving. Many people have a higher degree of
comfort with representational art than with abstract or non-objective
art. Digital tools are providing artists with a wider range of options
for capturing and creating realistic images.
Additionally, the workshop (or atelier) system continues to exist,
and many of these teach figurative painting exclusively. One example is
the School of Representational Art in Chicago, Illinois. There are also whole societies dedicated to representational art. Here in the United States, the Traditional Fine Arts Organization
comes quickly to mind. A web search using the keywords of
"representational + art + (your geographical location)" should turn up
venues and/or artists in your area.
