nonfigurative
- adjective
- /nɒnˈfɪɡjʊrətɪv/
- Specialized
:
no figurativo
- Many contemporary artists prefer to create nonfigurative works that focus on color and form rather than realistic representations.
- nonfigurative art
- nonfigurative form
Examples
-
Among all these Northern Province groups, woodcarving was a skill learned by men through apprenticeship to an elder male relative, and many carvers produced both figurative and nonfigurative objects for their communities.
Academic text (2000) -
The tops of these staffs are often nonfigurative, though many have the shape of the human head.
Academic text (1991) -
In a few evaluation tasks, for example, teachers and students were asked to share their opinions about certain modern artworks, both figurative and nonfigurative.
Academic text (1997) -
This trend is related to the rise of nonfigurative art, an event that parallels the histories of structuralism and poststructuralism.
Academic text (1992) -
Under the new auspices of the combined collections, these African works were finally categorized and promoted as "fine arts," with the collection making a noticeable shift from primarily nonfigurative arts to figurative sculpture.
Academic text (2004) -
The gradual academic and institutional shift toward an interest in the aesthetic qualities of nonfigurative African arts following Sieber's 1980 exhibition helps to explain why some South African galleries and museums began to purchase African art from the southern African region in the course of that decade.
Academic text (2004) -
The gallery featured a stunning collection of nonfigurative paintings that challenged traditional notions of representation.
-
He enjoys nonfigurative sculpture because it allows the viewer to interpret the meaning freely.
Synonyms
35
7.1
Art that uses shapes and colours instead of real objects
1
8.3
Art that does not show real people or things but uses shapes and colors
1
8.9
Art that does not show real things and focuses on color and shape
Relating to art that uses shapes and colors rather than real people or things
Not meant to copy real things, often showing abstract shapes or colours
Not showing things as they are in real life, often like a dream
Not trying to show life as it really is, often using dream images or symbols
Not showing pictures of people or animals, using symbols instead
Antonyms
5
5.9
In art, showing people, animals, or other things you can recognize rather than abstract shapes
How Representational
1
7.0
65
4.1
8
6.7
11
5.9
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
nonfigurative = figurative (transparent) = non + figur + ative
The prefix 'non-' clearly negates the meaning of 'figurative', making the meaning straightforward.
Etymology
The word nonfigurative breaks into non- meaning 'not' and figurative from figure, which means 'shape' or 'image'. So nonfigurative means art that 'does not' show real people or things but uses shapes and color and is abstract.