400 Must Have Words for the TOEFL LESSON 37 - Painting and Sculpture Vocabulary Test
Word List
abstract [ˈæbstrækt] adj.
Not concrete and realistic; not obviously related to everyday experience
→ Abstract painting became popular partly because early photography was very realistic.
Parts of speech abstraction n.
context [ˈkɒntekst] n.
A larger environment that something fits into
→ In the context of Soviet Russia, public art had to be about the triumph of communism and its leaders.
Usage tips The preposition in often comes before context, and an of phrase often comes after it.
Parts of speech contextualize v., contextual adj.
depict [dɪˈpɪkt] v.
To show in pictures
→ Michelangelo’s painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel depicts nine scenes from the Bible.
Parts of speech depiction n.
dimension [dɪˈmenʃən] n.
A direction or surface along which something can be measured; an aspect
→ The three dimensions of physical objects are length, width, and depth.
Parts of speech dimensional adj.
esthetically [ɛsˈθɛdɪkli] adv.
In a way that relates to beauty or appearance
→ The outside of the office building is esthetically pleasing,but the inside is dark and unpleasant.
Usage tips Esthetically is often spelled with an “a”at the beginning: aesthetically.
Parts of speech esthetic n., esthete n., esthetic adj.
intrinsic [ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk] adj.
Being part of the basic nature of something
→ Frequent elections are intrinsic to a democratic system.
Parts of speech intrinsically adv.
perspective [pəˈspektɪv] n.
A way of seeing from a particular location; a way of thinking about something
→ From my perspective, the entire town can be seen through a set of large windows.
portrayal [pɔːˈtreɪəl] n.
A description or drawing that reflects a certain point of view
→ Most portrayals of Abraham Lincoln emphasize his sense of humor and his honesty.
Usage tips Portrayal is often followed by an of phrase to indicate what is being described.
Parts of speech portray v.
realism [ˈrɪəlɪzəm] n.
A technique that tries to picture something as it really looks
→ Realism was popular among seventeenth-century Flemish painters like Rembrandt van Rijn.
Parts of speech realist n., realistic adj.
spectrum [ˈspektrəm] n.
A range of different things, usually colors
→ Bart’s colorful designs include every color of the spectrum, from deep blue to vibrant red.
Usage tips The phrase the spectrum frequently means “the colors that the human eye can see.”
