Nonrepresentational

Nonrepresentational refers to artworks that do not depict recognizable subjects from the visible world. Instead, nonrepresentational works emphasize formal elements such as color, line, shape, texture, and spatial relationships. The term is often used interchangeably with abstract or non-objective, though some critics distinguish nonrepresentational art as emphasizing form for its own sake rather than any reference to real-world objects.

In art history, nonrepresentational approaches arose as artists moved away from literal depictions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Pioneering figures include Wassily Kandinsky, who linked color and form to spiritual ideas; Piet Mondrian and the De Stijl movement, which reduced painting to geometric elements and primary colors; and Kazimir Malevich, whose Suprematist works pursued pure geometric expression. In the mid-20th century, Abstract Expressionists and other artists expanded nonrepresentational practice, prioritizing process, gesture, and emotion over identifiable subject matter. Since then, nonrepresentational art has remained a central modality within modern and contemporary art, continually expanding through various movements and individual approaches.

Practically, nonrepresentational art can range from highly abstract works to those that are non-figurative yet still convey a sense of mood or idea without depicting specific objects. The interpretation of such works often centers on composition, rhythm, and the viewer’s perceptual or emotional response rather than narrative or representational content. The term also appears in discussions of design and architecture, where forms may be valued for their autonomy and relationship to space rather than literal representation.