figuration

Figuration is a term used across arts, music, and social theory to denote the making, depiction, or arrangement of figures. Etymologically derived from Latin figura “form, shape,” the word is often used to distinguish recognizable figures from abstraction.

In the visual arts, figuration refers to the depiction of the human or animal form. Figurative art presents identifiable subjects, as opposed to abstraction. In literature and criticism, figurative language uses metaphor, simile, and other devices that convey meaning through symbolic representation rather than literal terms.

In music, figuration describes a melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic figure—short motifs that recur and shape a work's material. Composers develop or ornament figures to create unity and variation. The term is related to figured bass, where numerical figures indicate intervals to be played, forming a practical example of musical figuration.

In sociology, figuration (or figuration theory) denotes the mutually dependent relationship between individuals and social structures. Developed by Norbert Elias and further elaborated with Eric Dunning, this approach treats actors and institutions as a single historical process, the "figuration," evolving through long-term changes in power, kinship, and norms.

Other uses include general philosophical or critical discussions of representation, and in some contexts the term simply means the act of forming a figure. The concept emphasizes the interplay between form and meaning across domains.