Artistic Styles Vocabulary

new and experimental ideas in art; innovative

“The avant-garde film challenged conventional narrative structure.”

Origin: French `vanguard`, from avant `before` + garde `guard`

highly ornate and extravagant in style

“The baroque architecture featured elaborate decorations.”

Origin: French baroque from Portuguese barroco `irregularly shaped pearl`

characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity

“His minimalist design aesthetic favored clean lines.”

Origin: Latin minimus `smallest` + -ist

deriving ideas from a broad range of sources

“Her eclectic taste combined vintage and modern elements.”

Origin: Greek eklektikos `selective`, from eklegein `pick out, select`

art or objects considered to be in poor taste but amusing

“The gift shop sold kitsch souvenirs to tourists.”

Origin: German kitschen `to throw together, make cheap`

an artistic work imitating the style of another

“The film was a pastiche of classic noir movies.”

Origin: French from Italian pasticcio `pie, hodgepodge`

an imitation of style with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect

“The sketch was a clever parody of reality television.”

Origin: Greek parōidia `burlesque song`, from para- `beside` + ōidē `song`

something that shows respect or honor; a tribute

“The director's film was an homage to classic westerns.”

Origin: Old French homage, from homme `man`, from Latin homo

a picturesque grouping or scene

“The final scene created a stunning tableau.”

Origin: French `picture, painting`, diminutive of table `table, tablet`

a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic work

“Water appears as a recurring motif throughout her poetry.”

Origin: French motif `motive, theme`, from Latin motivus `moving`