National Galleries of Scotland

Collage

An image constructed from found materials, such as photographs, paper or fabric, glued to a surface, sometimes with additional painted or drawn elements. It is an art form particularly associated with Dada and Surrealism.

Composition

The arrangement of different elements in a work of art.

Constructivism

A geometric, abstract style founded in the early twentieth century in Russia by Vladimir Tatlin. The movement reflected the machine age through its use of new technology and materials and applied its theories to architecture and design as well as fine art. Exiled artists such as Naum Gabo helped to spread the Constructivist ideas. `Constructionist? and `constructed abstract art? are also terms used to describe work relating to these ideas.

Dada

A radical artistic and literary movement that was a reaction against the cultural climate that supported the First World War. The Dadaists took an anti-establishment attitude, questioning art's status and favouring performance and collage over traditional art techniques. Many Dadaists went on to become involved with Surrealism.

Figurative art

A general term for art that refers to the real, visible world, used more specifically for the representation of the human figure.

Oeuvre

French term which is used to refer to an artist's total body of work.

Relief

A form of sculpture where the image or design projects from a flat surface types of which include, bas-relief or low relief.