Abstractionism

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /æbˈstɹæk.ʃn̩ˌɪz.m̩/

Definitions

1. A movement that prioritizes ideas over physical form in both art and philosophy, focusing on non-literal concepts rather than concrete representations
2. An approach in art and thought emphasizing conceptual content over realistic depiction
3. A practice or theory that values the expression of intangible ideas instead of direct visual representation

Etymology: "Abstractionism" is a plain compound, built from "abstraction" plus the suffix "-ism," which in English marks a doctrine, practice, or movement. The base word "abstraction" comes from Latin "abstractio," a noun from "abstrahere," meaning "to draw away," and it reached English as a term for the act of separating a quality from the object that holds it. The suffix "-ism" descends from the Greek "-ismos," used to form nouns of action and state, and it entered English in that role. Put together, "abstractionism" names a movement in which artists drew away from recognisable subjects and worked with shape, colour, and line for their own sake. The label was applied to painting and sculpture of this kind, and its sense is the opposite of realism, which is why the definition is framed as art without realism.