Bright. A colour with a high proportion of light, lightened and lacking visual weight. Brightness gives a painting a sense of lightness and spaciousness.
Biennale. The name of a cultural event, usually international in scope, held every two years and typically organised as a competition. The oldest, the Venice Biennale, has been held since 1895 and presents the latest trends in world art.
Bozzetto. A term once used for a painted or sculpted sketch. Today it refers specifically to a small‑scale sculpture made in a soft material as a study for a larger work.
Baroque. A movement in literature and art that developed between 1590 and 1770, initially in Italy and later throughout Europe and Latin America. Characteristic features of Baroque art include monumentality, richness, illusionism, striking materials, and lavish colours. In painting, Renaissance harmony was replaced by dynamic compositions and expressive colour and texture.
Between 1590 and 1620, four distinct stylistic formulas emerged in painting:
- the style of the Carracci and their circle (Bologna, Rome, Naples),
- the style of Caravaggio (caravaggism in Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Flanders),
- the style of Bolognese and Roman painter‑decorators (illusionistic wall painting),
- the style of Rubens and his circle.
In France, a classicising branch of the Baroque developed, represented by N. Poussin and Ch. Le Brun. In the Netherlands, Baroque painting saw an enormous expansion of genre scenes and still life, which in this period became an independent artistic subject. A component of visual art in which line and chiaroscuro are the primary means of expression. Basic tools and materials include pencil, chalk, charcoal, pen, and inks. Some consider drawing a separate art form distinct from painting, yet the boundary is fluid: one may create a multicoloured drawing or a monochromatic painting. Drawing and painting interpenetrate, sharing techniques, intentions, and expressive possibilities.
Binder / Paint Binder (spoiwo malarskie)
The substance that binds pigment particles to form paint. Types include:
- Glue binder (water‑soluble),
- Oil binder (drying oils),
- Oil‑resin binder,
- Wax binder,
- Tempera binder (emulsion).