Final answer:
Artwork that represents objects we recognize from the natural world is called representational art. It is meant to depict our visual experience realistically, differentiating it from nonrepresentational art, which does not mimic objects from the observable world.
Step-by-step explanation:
Artwork that depicts the appearance of things—objects we recognize from the natural, everyday world—is referred to as representational art. This style of art aims to recreate our actual visual experience by making images look "real" or "realistic". However, the term "representational" is preferred because it encapsulates the idea that art is not the actual object itself, but a creation that comes from the artist's handiwork and vision, providing a recognizable representation of the world.
Representational art spans through time, displaying various forms, mediums, and techniques. The impulse to depict the world is enduring, despite the evolution in the methods by which humans have pictured their surroundings. The physical components of these artworks, such as oil and pigments on canvas or carved marble, largely determine their appearance.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have art that does not seek to represent objects from the observable world, which is known as nonrepresentational art. Both representational and nonrepresentational art forms provide viewers with insight into the visual culture that surrounds us on a daily basis.