Styles and Genres

• Abstract Art
Strictly speaking, abstract artworks derive from non-natural subjects such as geometric shapes, although wider definitions embrace all non-representational works. Types of geometric abstraction are also called concrete art, or more confusingly non-objective art. Both these terms mean the same.
• Representational Art
This describes images that are clearly recognizable for what they purport to be. By contrast, abstract art consists of pictures that lack any clear identity, and must therefore be interpreted by the viewer.
• Figure Drawing and Figure Painting
Including representational drawing from life.
• History Painting
Derived from the Italian word "istoria" (meaning, "narrative"), history painting - exemplified by Leonardo Davinci's work The Last Supper - tells noble stories or carries uplifting messages, and was considered to be No 1 in the Hierarchy of Painting Genres.
• Portrait Art
Embracing individual, group or self-portraits, this genre - exemplified by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-69) - was considered to be No 2 in the Hierarchy of Painting Genres.
• Genre Painting
Championed by 17th century Dutch Realists, such as Jan Vermeer (1632-75), this category of "everyday scenes" was seen as No 3 in the Hierarchy of Painting Genres.
• Landscape Painting
Comprising scenic views in which nature takes primacy over human figures, this was rated No 4 in the Hierarchy of Painting Genres.
• Still Life Painting
This genre - exemplified by Frans Snyders (1579-1657) - typically comprised an arrangement of objects (flowers, kitchen utensils etc.) laid out on a table. For moralistic still lifes, see: Vanitas Painting (17th century Holland) by Dutch artists like Harmen van Steenwyck (1612-56), Jan Davidsz de Heem (1606-83), Willem Kalf (1622-93) and Willem Claesz Heda (1594-1681). Because they were devoid of human representation, still lifes were regarded as the least important type of painting.