Realism vs. Stylization
Introduction
One of the fundamental properties of visual art is the degree to which it is realistic or stylized. The less a work of art resembles something in the physical world, the more stylized it is.
The Realism-Stylization Spectrum
![]() Highly Realistic Sculpture Image credit: Marie-Lan Nguyen |
![]() Significantly Stylized Sculpture Image credit: thebeskouros |
![]() Extremely Stylized Sculpture Image credit: J. Crocker |
The sculpture on the left is so realistic, it seems as though it might come alive. The lifelike quality of the middle sculpture is much weaker, due to such stylized features as the rigid facial expression, symmetrical posture, and patterned hair. The sculpture on the right is so stylized that it could represent any number of physical things (e.g. a bird, flower, or skeleton) or, arguably, no physical thing.
![]() Highly Realistic Painting Image credit: public domain |
![]() Significantly Stylized Painting Image credit: public domain |
![]() Extremely Stylized Painting Image credit: public domain |
Again, the artwork on the left is strikingly lifelike. The middle painting employs three of the most common methods of stylization: flatness (lack of three-dimensional depth), simplified shapes, and unrealistically vibrant colours. The painting on the right is extremely stylized; indeed, it is "completely stylized" (since it represents nothing from the physical world).
Related Terminology
Art that resembles nothing in the physical world is called abstract, while art that portrays something recognizable (however distorted) is called representational. One may also distinguish between narrative art (which tells some kind of story) and decorative art (which does not). While a decorative work can be either abstract or representational, a narrative work must be representational.
![]() Abstract Art Image credit: Mountain |
![]() Decorative Representational Art Image credit: Wolfgang Sauber |
![]() Narrative Representational Art Image credit: Marie-Lan Nguyen |
As demonstrated by the painting on the left jar, abstract art is inherently decorative. The representational painting on the middle jar is also decorative: the octopus is not doing anything, it is simply "there". The representational painting on the right jar, on the other hand, is narrative: the figures are actually doing something, and thus a story is conveyed.