3 Art Terms That Will Change the Way You Look At Paintings

Learn the meanings of Rückenfigur, Staffage and Festaiuolo

Detail of ‘Baptism of Christ’ (c.1450) by Piero della Francesca. Tempera on wood. 167 × 116 cm. National Gallery, London, UK. Image source Wikimedia Commons

Sometimes, being able to place a name against a method or device in art can help to see it more clearly.

I’ve often found that widening my lexicon of art terms allows me to engage more meaningfully with individual works. It enables the identification of aesthetic choices and artistic techniques, and ultimately adds to a deeper evaluation of an artwork.

Here are three art terms that I hope will enhance your understanding of works of art.

Rückenfigur

In painting, the term Rückenfigur refers to a figure seen from behind.

Instead of catching our eye, the Rückenfigur (in German meaning “back-figure”) turns away from sight. With their face hidden, the figure becomes a tabula rasa for the viewer to project their own thoughts, emotions and ideals onto.

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (c. 1818) by Caspar David Friedrich. Oil on canvas. 94.8 × 74.8 cm. Kunsthalle Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. Image source Wikimedia Commons

It’s hard to mention the Rückenfigur without taking account of the most notable example of them all: the explorer in Caspar David Friedrich’s Wanderer above the Sea of Fog, who has…