figurativa

Figurativa is a term used in several Romance languages, including Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, derived from figura (figure). It functions as an adjective describing representation by figures or recognizable subjects, and is applied in both art and language. In general usage, figurativa denotes work or expression that depicts tangible objects, people, or scenes, as opposed to non-representational or abstract forms.

In the visual arts, figurativa or arte figurativa refers to works that depict recognizable subjects such as people, animals, landscapes, or objects. This contrasts with abstraction, where subjects are reduced to shapes, colors, or gestural marks without identifiable subjects. The scope of figurativismo or figurative painting ranges from classical realism and naturalism to contemporary figurative art, which may incorporate stylization, symbolism, or social commentary while retaining identifiable imagery.

In language, figurativa pertains to figurative language, which uses figures of speech to express meanings beyond the literal sense. Common devices include metaphor, simile, personification, and metonymy. Figurative language enriches imagery, rhetoric, and nuance, enabling writers and speakers to convey complex ideas, emotions, or associations more vividly than literal language alone.

Usage and context vary by field and language. In art criticism and museum catalogs, arte figurativo or arte figurativa signals representational work. In literary analysis, lenguaje figurado or linguaggio figurato signals non-literal expression. Across cultures, figurativa emphasizes representation and imaginatively interpreted meaning, distinguishing it from literal or abstract approaches.