Abstraction
Art that does not try to show real people, places, or things, but uses shapes, colors, and lines instead.
What is it?
Abstraction is a way of making art where the artist doesn't paint something recognizable like a person or a tree. Instead, they use shapes, colors, lines, and textures to create a feeling or idea. Piet Mondrian's Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow is an abstract painting. It uses only straight lines and blocks of color. Abstraction became very popular in the 20th century.
Why it matters
Abstraction allows artists to express emotions and ideas without being tied to reality. It also lets viewers use their imagination to find their own meaning. Many modern buildings and designs use abstract shapes.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more abstract artworks.