The art of painting involves the application of coloured paints to a prepared flat surface. It is the main visual art form of humankind, from prehistoric cave paintings through modernist abstract expressionist works. Throughout history, the technique of painting has been refined to produce various effects and emotions. Painters can use a range of paints and media to create their work including tempera, fresco, oil, watercolour or other water-based paints, ink, gouache, encaustic, and casein. The choice of form, such as mural, easel, panel, miniature, illuminated manuscript, scroll, screen or fan, and the artist’s own painting technique combine to realize a unique visual image.
Painting can be used to portray both realistic and imaginative subjects. It can also be used to convey a sense of movement, atmosphere or light. Earlier cultural traditions of tribes, religions and guilds largely controlled the craft of painting as well as its subject matter, style, imagery and form. Later, the notion of the professional “fine artist” developed in Renaissance Europe and Asia, affording painters greater social status.
There are many different types of painting: genre, historical or narrative, and landscape, among others. Genre paintings often depict everyday domestic, social or recreational activities. They may offer insights into cultural or historic contexts, and they are usually characterized by detailed compositions. Historical or narrative paintings usually depict events, myths, or stories, and they are characterized by the addition of figures to the scene. Landscape paintings are mainly concerned with the depiction of natural scenery, such as mountains, forests, rivers and lakes. They can convey the beauty, mood or atmospheric elements of the landscape.
Some painters explore the limits of what is possible with their medium. For example, Claude Monet’s technique of dabbing, where the artist uses a paper towel or stiff bristle brush to apply the paint lightly and quickly with very little pressure, can result in interesting texture and movement. This is especially useful when painting trees or greenery, as it can reflect the effect of wind or sun on the leaves and flowers.
Modern artists may be inspired by the styles of the past and use them to create new works. They may also be inspired by societal issues and use their art to express ideas or concerns. For instance, some artists use abstract expressionism to explore the meaning of a subject through color and shape rather than its visible details. Others, such as Georgia O’Keeffe, strip a subject down to its dominant colors or shapes, thereby removing it from its context. This can make the subjects seem otherworldly and dreamlike, as in the paintings of these artists.
As the Industrial Revolution swept Europe in the first decades of the 20th century, paintings became less realistic. As the paint tube became more accessible, painters were free to experiment with their techniques. This led to a variety of styles that broke away from the traditional representational form.