figuration

Artistic mode which depicts visual forms derived from real-world objects — often, though not always, rendered through observation. Also called representational art, figurative art is not necessarily realistic and can involve degrees of idealisation or abstraction, but tends to depict its subjects in a recognisable form. Figuration is a very common mode of representation in premodern art across the world. In Modern art, figuration is sometimes used specifically to contrast with the abstract art that emerged in the 20th century.