Genre

Genre is the word used to categorize or group together the different styles in the Arts. From the French for ‘a kind, sort or group’, a ‘genre’ will encompass artworks that share the same criteria, principles or methods and can be applied to all Art forms from painting and sculpture to films and literature.

In painting, there are numerous genres including Renaissance, Roccoco, Impressionism, Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. Watteau’s ‘The Embarkation for Cythera’ demonstrates the delicate, light colours, frivolity and sensuousness that mark out paintings of the Rococo Genre.