nonobjective

Nonobjective art refers to artworks that do not depict recognizable objects or scenes. The term denotes works whose primary concern is form, color, line, texture, and composition rather than representation of the visible world. It is often used interchangeably with non-representational or abstract art, though some critics reserve “nonobjective” for works that explicitly eschew all reference to the natural world, whereas “abstract” may include works that suggest but do not reproduce objects.

Origins and development: The approach emerged in the early 20th century with the rise of abstraction in European and American art. Pioneers such as Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian sought to express ideas, emotions, or universal principles through pure form and color, without depicting objects. In mid-20th-century North American criticism, “nonobjective painting” or “non-objective art” became a common label for pure abstraction, contrasting with figurative or representational styles.

Characteristics: Nonobjective works emphasize the arrangement of elements—color relationships, geometric or gestural marks, rhythm, and surface texture—over narrative content. They may be geometric (rigid shapes, clear edges) or gestural (emphatic brushwork). The viewer’s interpretation tends to be open-ended, with meaning arising from perceptual experience rather than depiction.

Relation to other terms: The terms nonobjective, non-representational, and abstract are related but not always synonymous. Some abstract art is nonobjective, while other abstract works retain referential cues or emotive associations.