Art

Arto Tchakmaktchian: Armenian-Canadian Sculptor and Painter Arto Tchakmaktchian Armenian-Canadian artist Arto Tchakmaktchian (1933–2019) was a sculptor and painter known for figurative works, public monuments and international exhibitions; honored in Canada an…

Artois — former province of northern France Artois Artois is a historic province in northern France, now mainly in Pas-de-Calais (Hauts-de-France). It covers about 4,000 km² with roughly one million inhabitants and includes Arras,…

Artonges: former commune in Aisne, Hauts-de-France Artonges Artonges was a small rural commune in Aisne, northern France. It had 194 inhabitants in 2012 and on 1 January 2016 was merged into the commune nouvelle Dhuys-et-Morin-en-Brie while…

Artpop (ARTPOP) — Lady Gaga's third studio album Artpop Artpop (stylized ARTPOP) is Lady Gaga's third studio album, released November 11, 2013. It blends pop, electronic and R&B influences, spawned several singles and generated mixed cr…

Arts: Forms, History, and Cultural Importance Arts A concise, balanced overview of the arts: major forms, historical development, roles in society, and how the arts relate to the humanities and sciences.

Arts and Crafts: Hands‑On Making, History, and Contemporary Practice Arts and crafts Overview of arts and crafts: hands-on creative practices, materials and methods, historical development including the 19th-century movement, common forms, learning pathways, and co…

Artur Schnabel Austrian-born pianist, composer and teacher (1882–1951), renowned for his thoughtful, uncompromising interpretations and for making the first complete commercial recordings of Beet…

Arturo Vidal — Chilean midfield footballer and international captain Arturo Vidal Overview of Arturo Vidal, his career from Chile to Europe's top leagues, playing style, major honours including Copa América wins, and his role with the Chile national team.

Artvin: Mountain City of Turkey's Northeastern Black Sea Region Artvin Artvin is the provincial capital in Turkey's northeastern Black Sea region, known for rugged mountains, the Çoruh River, diverse cultural heritage, and outdoor tourism including tr…

Ary Fontoura — Brazilian actor, writer and television presenter Ary Fontoura Veteran Brazilian actor born in 1933 in Curitiba, known for a long career across theatre, television and film and for roles such as in the telenovela Meu Bem Querer.

Aryan (self-name of ancient Indo-Iranian peoples) Aryan Ancient self-designation used by Indo-Iranian speakers meaning 'noble' or 'free one'; attested in Sanskrit and Avestan, linked to names for Iran and northern India, and later misus…

Aryan race: origins, misuse, and modern scholarly view Aryan race Overview of the term 'Aryan': its ancient linguistic roots, 19th-century racialization, political appropriation (including occult and Nazi uses), and the contemporary scholarly con…

AS — Abbreviation and Symbol: Uses in Geography, Science, Technology, Business and Culture AS An organized reference to the many meanings of 'AS' (and variants like As, Ås, A/S): place names, transport codes, scientific symbols, computing terms, corporate forms, media and c…

Asana — yoga postures: meaning, types, history and uses Asana An overview of asana — the physical postures of yoga. Covers meaning, common categories, naming conventions, historical development, practical benefits, and safety considerations.

ASCII art: text-based images, emoticons, and their history ASCII art ASCII art is the creation of pictures and designs from plain text characters. It ranges from simple emoticons to large multi-line images and influenced early computing culture, BBS…

Ashford Black Marble: Derbyshire's polished decorative limestone Ashford Black Marble A dark, fine-grained decorative limestone quarried at Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire, prized for its deep polish and used for inlay, turned wares and ornamental stonework since t…

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology Ashmolean Museum Oxford's Ashmolean is the world's first university museum, holding wide-ranging collections of art and antiquities, with long history, public programmes, research and recently mode…

Aspiration (phonetics): breathy airflow and its role in speech Aspiration Aspiration is a phonetic feature in which a consonant is released with an audible burst of breath. It can be phonemic in some languages and allophonic in others; notation and examp…

Attack: concept, forms, and role in conflict and competition Attack An attack is an action intended to impose one party’s will on another by force or disruption. This article explains types, key characteristics, historical development, uses in vari…

Auction: methods, types, history, uses, rules and notable issues Auction A comprehensive overview of auctions: how they work, common formats, historical development, practical uses, fees and rules, and notable economic and legal considerations.

Audience: groups of people who experience the same event or media Audience An audience is a group of people who perceive the same performance, media, or event. This article explains types, roles, modes of participation, history, and how audiences are meas…

Audio description A narrated secondary audio track that explains important visual details for blind and low-vision audiences across television, film, theater and live events.

Audiophile An audiophile is an enthusiast who seeks high-quality sound reproduction. This article explains motivations, equipment, measurement debates, history, listening practices, and commu…

Auditory hallucination Auditory hallucinations are perceptions of sounds without external stimulus. This article explains types, causes, clinical significance, treatment approaches, and distinctions from…

Auguste Rodin: formative life, style, and legacy of a modern sculptor Auguste Rodin Comprehensive overview of Auguste Rodin (1840–1917): life, techniques, principal works such as The Thinker and The Gates of Hell, reception in his lifetime, and his lasting influen…

Aura: meanings in medicine, culture, and spirituality Aura Overview of 'aura' covering medical symptoms (migraine and seizure auras), spiritual and cultural uses, art theory, distinguishing features, and notes on scientific evidence.

Aura (symptom) A perceptual disturbance that precedes or accompanies neurological events such as migraine or epileptic seizures, manifesting as sensory, motor or psychic changes.

Autograph An autograph is a text written in a person's own handwriting, often a signature or manuscript; important for identification, historical research, collecting, authentication and pre…

AutoIt: Windows scripting and GUI automation language AutoIt AutoIt is a free Windows scripting language for automating GUI tasks, creating standalone executables and extending functionality with user-created libraries and COM or DLL calls.

Avant-garde: Experimental and Innovative Movements in Art, Culture and Politics Avant-garde Overview of the avant-garde: origins of the term, defining traits, major movements and examples, influence across arts and politics, and distinctions from related concepts.

Aviation: Principles, History, Roles, and Contemporary Issues Aviation A concise overview of aviation covering principles, components, history, civil and military uses, regulation, safety, environmental issues and current technological trends.

Axe: history, parts, types and modern uses Axe An axe is a wedge-shaped hand tool or implement used primarily for cutting, shaping, splitting and sometimes as a weapon. This article covers design, history, common types, uses an…

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum National museum in Baku dedicated to Azerbaijani carpets and textile arts, named after Latif Karimov; houses an extensive collection and moved to a landmark seafront building in 20…

Azerbaijani carpet: history, design, and cultural significance Azerbaijani carpet Handmade carpets from Azerbaijan are a centuries‑old textile tradition noted for regional styles, natural dyes, iconic motifs and social importance; recognized by UNESCO as intangi…

Azure (color) Azure is a bright blue hue often associated with the daytime sky. It sits between blue and cyan in many color systems and appears in art, design, heraldry, and web color naming.

Ænema (song) Ænema Ænema is a 1997 single by American rock band Tool from their album Ænima. Noted for its dark satire, complex rhythms and Bill Hicks influence, it won the 1998 Grammy for Best Metal…

B of the Bang (Manchester sculpture) B of the Bang Public sculpture by Thomas Heatherwick in Manchester, commissioned for the 2002 Commonwealth Games; notable for its spiky form, structural failures, legal settlement and removal in…

Baby blue: description, history, uses, and variations Baby blue Baby blue is a pale, pastel shade of blue—light azure—used in fashion, design, and cultural signaling, notably for infants, interiors, and branding where a soft, calming tone is de…

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Bachelor of Arts Overview of the Bachelor of Arts degree: scope, structure, historical origins, regional duration differences, common subjects and career uses, and notable variations.

Baguazhang (Eight Trigram Palm) Baguazhang Baguazhang is a Chinese internal martial art known for circle walking, spiraling palm techniques, and Taoist inspiration from the I Ching; it blends self‑defense, health training a…

Ball-jointed doll (BJD) Ball-jointed doll A ball-jointed doll (BJD) is a highly posable, often resin or urethane doll assembled with spherical joints. BJDs are prized for customization, artistic uses, photography, and coll…

Ballerina A ballerina is a female ballet dancer who performs leading roles in classical and contemporary ballet; the term also reflects rank, technique, and a long artistic tradition.

Ballet: classical and contemporary dance — technique, history, and repertoire Ballet Ballet is a formal theatrical dance with codified technique, a history from Renaissance courts to modern companies, and a repertory of classical and contemporary works performed to…

Ballet blanc: the white scene of Romantic-era ballet Ballet blanc A ballet blanc is a Romantic-era ballet style marked by dancers in white, ethereal stagecraft, and supernatural themes. Notable examples include the second acts of La Sylphide and…

Ballet d'action (18th‑century expressive ballet movement) Ballet d'action An 18th‑century reform movement led by Jean‑Georges Noverre promoting dramatic coherence, expressive technique, simple costume, and dance that communicates character and feeling.

Ballet shoe Lightweight soft shoes worn for ballet; includes slippers and pointe shoes. Covers materials, construction, history, types, care, and distinctions between practice and performance…

Ballets Russes (Les Ballets Russes de Serge Diaghilev) Ballets Russes Early 20th-century ballet company founded by Sergei Diaghilev that revolutionized dance, music and visual design through bold collaborations and landmark premieres like The Rite of…

Balloon (aircraft) A lighter-than-air aircraft that rises by buoyancy; includes hot-air, gas, and hybrid types. Used for recreation, sport, science and observation; distinct from powered airships.