Final answer:
Texture in art refers to the tactile or visual quality that represents the surface feel of an object within an artwork. It can be actual, felt in a three-dimensional work, or implied in two-dimensional pieces through the artistry of brushwork and technique. Textures are critical for bringing realism to art and enhancing the viewer's experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
Texture refers to the surface quality of an artwork, whether it is the tactile sensations of roughness or smoothness you can feel by touch or the visual indication of such surfaces. It's an element of art that allows artists to imitate the look and feel of different materials such as rock, wood, stone, and fabric in their creations. The texture can be literal in three-dimensional works using materials with inherent textures or visual in two-dimensional works where artists use brushwork, technique, and paint layers to create the illusion of texture.