Not interested in abstract art prints? You might be and just not know it. Perhaps there are elements of them you like but you still want to recognise a figure or object in the image. That's exactly where abstract art prints come in, bridging the gap between the familiar and the interpretive.
Today we're discussing the differences between representational and non-representational art, where abstract falls between them, and the beauty of the work that incorporates elements of both figurative and abstract art.
What's abstract and what's not?
It's a misleading term. The majority of art is an abstraction, even the most realistic and accurate works are imperfect renderings of our three dimensional reality. Despite it meaning different things to different people, many see abstract art prints, no matter how abstracted from reality they may be, as rooted in a representation of something that exists in reality. What makes them abstract is the artist's deliberate detachment from a realistic or recognisable depiction.
Figurative or representational art is intended to portray a figure, object or scene in a level of accuracy and detail that allows the viewer to recognise it, thus eliminating the need for base emotional interpretation and introducing themes that often include politics or religion. This can evoke emotion and make bold statements through the depiction of classical, biblical or everyday scenes and objects.
Non-representational work, however, is a visual manifestation of something that exists outside of our tangible reality. Non-representational abstract art prints allow for a huge level of interpretation from the viewer, as the artist relies on form, shape and colour to evoke and trigger base emotions.
Image source: Andrew Tupalev, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Not as black and white as you'd think
Obviously, it's not as straightforward as this. So why the huge differentiation between works that are 'abstract' and those that aren't? Abstract art and figurative works are often presented as opposites, and sometimes they are, take Piet Mondrian and Chuck Close for example.
However, many pieces of art include elements of both, and many artists transcend the divide between these genres. When choosing abstract art prints for your space, it's worth exploring this beautiful grey area, where the recognisable and the interpretive meet. We think that's where the real magic is to be found.
Header photo by Far Chinberdiev on Unsplash
