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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Modern Figurative And Genre Art

By Elsa Noel


Genre art pictures scenes from everyday life, usually people doing something. According to the Academy systematization, genre painting is one of the types of paintings, together with history painting, portraiture, landscape, animal paining and still life. Figurative and genre art aren't synonyms, although they can both picture animal or human figures in different situations. Genre art is figuratism, while figuratism doesn't have to be genre art.

Figurative art is any form of art that has strong and recognizable references to the real world. The importance is given to perspective, volume, shape and structure. Artists use lines, shades, color and different materials to accentuate volume and perspective, or to achieve other effects. All techniques are accepted, as long as everything is based on the real world.

Generally speaking, figuratism is representational type of art. It covers everything that isn't abstract, and can be recognized as something that really exist in the real world. All art that was made before abstract art can be considered as figuratism. Considering this, it's easy to classify any artwork into these two basic categories. If you cannot tell what it is, it is probably abstract work.

This type of painting uses all types of media, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel or any other. The main subject is human figure, with or without clothes. Although all portraits are actually figuratism, different artists have different approach to the subject. Some of them are more focused on reality, while some rather describe moods and emotions.

The best example for this art-form is expressionism, but all other types can also be considered as figuratism, as long as they aren't abstract. For example, cubism. Although it belongs to abstract form, numerous artworks are actually figurative. Picasso is the best example for this. Although his artworks can sometimes be really distorted, you can still recognize the main subject. There are no special limitations.

So, there are two poles of figurative art. On one side there is the photo realism, where everything has to be exactly as it really is. Other extreme is almost unrecognizable figuration, which is nearly abstract. Cubism is a very good example of this second extreme. Take for example Picasso's work. When it comes to his analysis of woman's face, it doesn't look exactly as a face, but you can tell that it is.

Numerous contemporary artists represent different approaches to figuratism. Some of the most interesting ones are John Currin and Jenny Saville, for example. If you would like to explore the world of modern figurative artists, make sure to check the work of Hollis Dunlap, Johan Van Mullem, Marlene Dumas, Jas Knight, Gillian Carnegie and numerous other interesting artists.

Twentieth century was not very good period for figuratism. Abstract art forms and different avant-garde movements were just about everywhere. Luckily, in the eighties, figuratism was re-discovered. John Currin is one of the most popular representatives of this new age. Interested in real arts, not in changing or improving something perfect. It would be hard to improve Titian or Michelangelo. The point is to offer valuable art that reflects the world that exists today.




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