Painting is the art of applying pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface. Often this is done with brush, although sponges, airbrushes and knives are also used. Painting is a form of visual art, and one who practices it is called a painter. The art of painting is rooted in various cultures around the world, and it has evolved into many different styles over the centuries.
In the early modern period, painters began to focus on abstraction. This included reducing a subject to its dominant colors or shapes, as was done in the work of Pablo Picasso. This approach was also taken up by Georgia O’Keeffe, who drew flowers and shells that don’t look realistic but have a strong emotional impact.
Other types of art include sculpture, drawing and printmaking. Each of these has its own unique process, but they all share the ability to convey a message or emotion. Some people are even able to express themselves by making music, poetry or dance. However, painting is the most widely practiced form of artistic expression.
For thousands of years, painting has been a way for people to communicate with each other. In fact, there are cave paintings found all over the world that are more than 40,000 years old. Since that time, the art of painting has continued to evolve, and it now includes a variety of styles and techniques.
The art of painting can be considered as one of the three “romantic” arts along with sculpture and music. These arts are seen as symbolic and highly intellectual, and they are intended to capture a universal concept of beauty. Despite the lack of success, a number of painters have written theoretical works on the subject of painting. These include Kandinsky and Paul Klee, who both advocated that primary colors symbolize essential feelings or concepts.
Earlier cultural traditions—tribes, religions, guilds and royal courts—controlled the craft, form and imagery of painting and determined its function. But in the Renaissance of Europe and Asia, painters became more of a respected and creative profession. They signed their work, consciously chose its design and subject matter, and formed more personal-if not always amicable—relationships with patrons.
A painter must be able to master a wide range of technical skills to produce an outstanding piece. This is especially important when achieving a high level of realistic detail in a painting. Vermeer, for example, is a master of perspective and achieves an unparalleled degree of luminosity in his paintings.
One of his most famous works is The Art of Painting, a depiction of a seventeenth-century Dutch studio that is lit by diffused light and intricately painted details. Once regarded as a realistic depiction of Vermeer in his studio, scholars now believe it is an allegory of the art of painting.