The Art Institute of Chicago: Art Access

		Renaissance from the French word renaissance ("rebirth"): in 15th- and 16th-century Europe, a revival of learning, literature, art, and architecture that emphasized and often imitated classical examples from ancient Greece and Rome. Although the Renaissance was centered in Italy, various aspects of it also appeared in Northern Europe (particularly Flanders, the Netherlands, and Germany), especially during the 16th century.

		representational (adj) representing the appearance of an object or figure in the real world

		Surrealism (n) movement introduced by a group of writers and artists led by French poet André Breton (1896-1966) in Paris in 1924. Surrealists embraced the act of spontaneous creation. To unleash their creativity, some used Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis, probing the world of dreams, fantasies, and the subconscious in their art. Many Surrealists produced fantastic, meticulously rendered objects, while others combined ordinary objects in strange and startling ways. Some strayed from realism to work in abstract Surrealist styles that incorporated whimsical, organic forms.

		Symbolist (adj) of or relating to the literary and artistic movement that originated with a group of French poets in the late 19th century. Symbolism spread to painting and the theater in France and elsewhere. Symbolist artists sought to express individual emotional experience through fantastic and dreamlike images.

		style (n) a distinctive manner of expression (as in writing, speech, or art)

		stylized (adj) conforming to an artificial or abstract design rather than replicating nature

		theosophy (n) philosophical or religious teaching based on a mystical insight into the nature of God and the world through direct knowledge, philosophical speculation, or a physical process, such as painting. Theosophy influenced numerous late-19th- and early-20th-century artists. The Theosophical Society, with which theosophy is now generally identified, was founded in New York in 1875 by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky.

		totalitarian (adj) of or relating to a political regime in which the individual is subordinated to the state and all aspects of life are controlled by coercive measures such as censorship and terrorism

		transcendental (adj) beyond ordinary or common experience, thought, or belief; supernatural

		video art (n) art made using video technology, either as a program on tape or as an installation, sometimes with multiple monitors and other media. Video art emerged in the 1960s; today it often incorporates viewer interaction with technology.

Reproduction Permission. Last updated: August 2004. Best viewed with Netscape Navigator 4.0 or higher.

Questions?
contact us at:
webmaster@artic.edu

© 2004. The Art Institute of Chicago. All text and images on this site are protected by
U.S. and international copyright laws. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Terms and conditions