Avbildende

Avbildende is an adjective used in Norwegian Bokmål and Swedish (avbildande) to describe imagery that depicts or represents the appearance of subjects. It is derived from the verb avbilda, meaning to depict or portray, combined with the adjectival suffixes -ende or -ande. In general usage, avbildende denotes representational or depictive art and media, as opposed to abstract, non-representational, or symbolic forms.

In art criticism, avbildende works aim to reproduce visible features such as shape, proportion, light, and texture, even if they simplify or stylize these elements. The term covers painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and other visual media that convey recognizable subjects—portraits, landscapes, still lifes, or scenes—without necessarily aiming for exact realism. By contrast, terms like abstract or non-representational describe works where depiction of the external world is minimized or absent.

Regional and linguistic notes: In Norwegian and Swedish contexts, avbildende is common in art history, museum labeling, and criticism. The related noun avbildning means depiction, while an avbildad image refers to the depicted image itself. The concept helps distinguish works that aim to reproduce the world from those that emphasize interpretation, abstraction, or symbolic meaning.

See also: Representational art, Realism, Photorealism, Abstract art.