Painting is an art form that involves the application of pigments to a surface, usually with a brush or knife. It may be used to represent objects, people, scenes, or events, or it can be wholly abstract. It is one of the oldest known forms of artistic expression, with earliest examples dating back to the Neolithic period of human development. Today, it is a widespread practice worldwide and continues to play an important role in culture and society.
Painting, like other art, may be created for various purposes such as ritualistic, decorative, entertainment, or educational. The subject matter, imagery, and style of a painting are influenced by its cultural context, as well as by the artist’s individual aesthetic sensibility. The medium of paint and its working characteristics—such as viscosity, miscibility, solubility, and drying time—are also significant factors in a painting’s creation.
The art of painting encompasses a wide variety of styles and techniques, from the use of natural materials such as egg tempering, fresco, oil or water-based paints, ink, gouache, or encaustic to the choice of a particular canvas size, easel, panel, scroll, manuscript illumination, or other format. The combination of these elements and the artist’s choice of a painterly language—a set of technical, expressive, or formal possibilities—help to determine a painting’s character and meaning.
In modern times, the art of painting has been subjected to a number of critical theories and debates. These have revolved around the concept of beauty, as well as the role of the viewer and the artist. In the 18th century, the German philosopher Hegel argued that painting could be considered a form of poetry and music due to its emotional, symbolic nature. Hegel’s idea was that a painting should transcend the materiality of its medium and communicate ideas, emotions, or moods through color, line, and shape. The 19th century saw two developments that shook the world of painting to its foundations, and in many ways made it obsolete: the invention of photography in the 1830s, and the rise of Expressionism in the early 1900s.
Many artists have written theoretical works about the art of painting. These include Goethe, Kandinsky, and Newton. Kandinsky wrote about the spiritual value of painting, arguing that primary colors had psychological effects on viewers. He believed that a painting could capture the essence of an entire culture or age through its colors.
In the contemporary art world, painting has been called “sick” and even “dead.” However, in spite of the gloomy prognoses, painting seems to be healthier than ever. Painting has become more abstract, and biennials that once primarily featured video and installation now feature a wealth of figurative work. In addition, there is a strong resurgence of traditional techniques such as scumbling and impasto, with prominent practitioners such as Katharina Grosse and Alexis Smith at the forefront of the movement. In addition to these trends, there are a number of younger artists who are using the medium in new and innovative ways.