Representational
adjective
Relating to the realistic depiction of things in art or literature.
She's drawn to a variety of artistic styles, but she finds representational painting very appealing.
Often appears as...
- representational painting
- representational artist
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Serving to symbolize or denote something else.
The representational function of language allows us to talk about things that are not physically present.
Often appears as...
- representational function
- representational meaning
Usage tips
Neutral
Academic
adjective
Involving or dependent on representation, especially human representation in government.
Our country uses a representational system of government, which means citizens vote for officials who represent their interests.
Often appears as...
- representational democracy
- representational system
Usage tips
Neutral
Academic
adjective
Relating to the realistic depiction of things in art or literature.
She's drawn to a variety of artistic styles, but she finds representational painting very appealing.
Often appears as...
- representational painting
- representational artist
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Serving to symbolize or denote something else.
The representational function of language allows us to talk about things that are not physically present.
Often appears as...
- representational function
- representational meaning
Usage tips
Neutral
Academic
adjective
Involving or dependent on representation, especially human representation in government.
Our country uses a representational system of government, which means citizens vote for officials who represent their interests.
Often appears as...
- representational democracy
- representational system
Usage tips
Neutral
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Art Interpretation
When used in art, 'representational' implies the artwork looks like the subjects it portrays.
The gallery’s collection includes representational art that vividly captures the natural world.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Descriptions
'Representational' can also refer to descriptions in literature that paint a clear picture in the reader's mind.
Her representational prose made the reader feel as if they were walking the streets of Paris.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Awareness
Understand the context to distinguish representational art from abstract art, which does not mimic reality.
Although he appreciates abstract works, he prefers the clarity of representational images.
Pro Tip 1/3Art Interpretation
When used in art, 'representational' implies the artwork looks like the subjects it portrays.
The gallery’s collection includes representational art that vividly captures the natural world.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Descriptions
'Representational' can also refer to descriptions in literature that paint a clear picture in the reader's mind.
Her representational prose made the reader feel as if they were walking the streets of Paris.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Awareness
Understand the context to distinguish representational art from abstract art, which does not mimic reality.
Although he appreciates abstract works, he prefers the clarity of representational images.
Pro Tip 1/3Art Interpretation
When used in art, 'representational' implies the artwork looks like the subjects it portrays.
The gallery’s collection includes representational art that vividly captures the natural world.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Descriptions
'Representational' can also refer to descriptions in literature that paint a clear picture in the reader's mind.
Her representational prose made the reader feel as if they were walking the streets of Paris.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Awareness
Understand the context to distinguish representational art from abstract art, which does not mimic reality.
Although he appreciates abstract works, he prefers the clarity of representational images.
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Video examples
A journey through the...
There's a cave where all these animal-headed creatures travel between two worlds. They go from the representational world, to this analog-mesh underworld, where they're hiding. This is where the animal-headed creatures are by the lighthouse, and they're all about to commit mass suicide into the ocean. The ocean is made up of thousands of elements.
Video examples
Ice Age Cave Art:...
Because there's some major omissions there. Where's the landscape features? Where's the weaponry? Where's the daily life? Did nobody look up at the sky? You know? And so I think that, personally, and this is what we're starting to dig into now, I think a lot of these geometric signs might actually be representational, as well.
Video examples
A journey through the...
There's a cave where all these animal-headed creatures travel between two worlds. They go from the representational world, to this analog-mesh underworld, where they're hiding. This is where the animal-headed creatures are by the lighthouse, and they're all about to commit mass suicide into the ocean. The ocean is made up of thousands of elements.
Video examples
Ice Age Cave Art:...
Because there's some major omissions there. Where's the landscape features? Where's the weaponry? Where's the daily life? Did nobody look up at the sky? You know? And so I think that, personally, and this is what we're starting to dig into now, I think a lot of these geometric signs might actually be representational, as well.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Michael Wolff
American Author
I am in the representational business, a portraitist. I have tried to walk an amused line amid hyperbole, documentary detail, cruel characterisation, occasional affection, some good punchlines and anthropological social insight. It's been a good living.
Quote examples
Adam Mansbach
American Author
Vinyl is democratic, as surely as the iPod is fascist. Vinyl is representational: It has a face. Two faces, in fact, to represent the dualism of human nature. Vinyl occupies physical space honestly, proud as a fat woman dancing.
Quote examples
Jon Favreau
American Actor
I think what's fun about the Western genre is the character arcs are very strong and, arguably, more interesting and exciting than the action that is metaphorically representational of those arcs.
Quote examples
Charlotte Casiraghi
Royalty
I'm not a princess. My mother is, not I. I am the niece of a head of state. And with this status, I have some representational duties - nothing very constraining or very exceptional.
Quote examples
Anna Quindlen
American Journalist
Raising a child is a little like Picasso's work; in the beginning he did very conventional representational things. Cubism came after he had the rules down pat.
Quote examples
Terry Teachout
American Critic
What do you see when you look at a representational painting? Most of the time, the first thing I see is a flat piece of canvas covered with colored patterns.
Quote examples
Jackson Pollock
American Artist
I'm very representational some of the time, and a little all of the time. But when you're painting out of your unconscious, figures are bound to emerge.
Quote examples
Robert Smithson
American Artist
History is representational, while time is abstract; both of these artifices may be found in museums, where they span everybody's own vacancy.
Quote examples
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Austrian Philosopher
One of the most misleading representational techniques in our language is the use of the word 'I.
Quote examples
Joe Sacco
Journalist
It became clear to me that I had to push it toward a more representational way of drawing.
Quote examples
Michael Wolff
American Author
I am in the representational business, a portraitist. I have tried to walk an amused line amid hyperbole, documentary detail, cruel characterisation, occasional affection, some good punchlines and anthropological social insight. It's been a good living.
Quote examples
Adam Mansbach
American Author
Vinyl is democratic, as surely as the iPod is fascist. Vinyl is representational: It has a face. Two faces, in fact, to represent the dualism of human nature. Vinyl occupies physical space honestly, proud as a fat woman dancing.
Quote examples
Jon Favreau
American Actor
I think what's fun about the Western genre is the character arcs are very strong and, arguably, more interesting and exciting than the action that is metaphorically representational of those arcs.
Quote examples
Charlotte Casiraghi
Royalty
I'm not a princess. My mother is, not I. I am the niece of a head of state. And with this status, I have some representational duties - nothing very constraining or very exceptional.
Quote examples
Anna Quindlen
American Journalist
Raising a child is a little like Picasso's work; in the beginning he did very conventional representational things. Cubism came after he had the rules down pat.
Quote examples
Terry Teachout
American Critic
What do you see when you look at a representational painting? Most of the time, the first thing I see is a flat piece of canvas covered with colored patterns.
Quote examples
Jackson Pollock
American Artist
I'm very representational some of the time, and a little all of the time. But when you're painting out of your unconscious, figures are bound to emerge.
Quote examples
Robert Smithson
American Artist
History is representational, while time is abstract; both of these artifices may be found in museums, where they span everybody's own vacancy.
Quote examples
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Austrian Philosopher
One of the most misleading representational techniques in our language is the use of the word 'I.
Quote examples
Joe Sacco
Journalist
It became clear to me that I had to push it toward a more representational way of drawing.
Example 1 of 10
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