abstrakter

Abstrakter is a German noun used to denote a person who creates abstract art. The term derives from abstrakt "abstract" and the agent suffix -er, yielding der Abstrakte, plural die Abstrakten. In art discourse, an Abstrakter is an artist whose work prioritizes non-representational elements such as color, form, and rhythm over literal depiction of the physical world. The label can apply to painters, sculptors, and other visual artists who work within abstraction.

Abstraction in Western art development began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and evolved through various movements, including Cubism, Expressionism, Suprematism, and De Stijl. An Abstrakter may emphasize processes of perception and interpretation, exploring relationships between line, plane, texture, and the viewer's sense of space rather than straightforward subject matter. The term appears in artist biographies, critical essays, and catalogs to distinguish non-representational practice from figurative work.

In contemporary usage, the concept of abstraction remains broad. Some Abstraktors pursue pure geometric form, others gestural or lyrical painting, and many work across media. The term does not prescribe a single style; it signals allegiance to abstraction as a guiding principle in art. See also abstraction, abstract art, and nonrepresentational art.