Spanish for Art & Museums

Paintings, sculptures, exhibitions. Appreciate and discuss art in Spanish.

Museum vocabulary

SpanishEnglish
el museomuseum
la exposiciónexhibition
la obra (de arte)work (of art)
el cuadro / la pinturapainting
la esculturasculpture
la galeríagallery
el/la artistaartist
el/la pintor/apainter
la entradaadmission/ticket
la audioguíaaudio guide
la colección permanentepermanent collection
la exposición temporaltemporary exhibition

At the museum

Useful phrases

¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada? (How much is admission?)
¿Hay descuento para estudiantes? (Student discount?)
¿Tienen audioguía en inglés? (Do you have an audio guide in English?)
Prohibido tocar. (Do not touch.)
Prohibido hacer fotos con flash. (No flash photography.)
¿Dónde está la tienda del museo? (Where is the museum shop?)

Art styles and movements

SpanishEnglish
el arte abstractoabstract art
el realismorealism
el impresionismoimpressionism
el surrealismosurrealism
el cubismocubism
el barrocobaroque
el arte contemporáneocontemporary art
el muralismomuralism (Mexican movement)

Discussing art

Expressing opinions about art

Esta obra me parece fascinante. (I find this work fascinating.)
Me encanta el uso del color. (I love the use of color.)
Es una obra maestra. (It's a masterpiece.)
¿Qué representa? (What does it represent?)
Me transmite tristeza / alegría / paz. (It conveys sadness / joy / peace to me.)
El artista quiso expresar... (The artist wanted to express...)

Famous Spanish-speaking artists

Must-know names

Pablo Picasso (Spain) — cubism | Salvador Dalí (Spain) — surrealism
Diego Velázquez (Spain) — baroque | Francisco Goya (Spain) — romanticism
Frida Kahlo (Mexico) — surrealism/folk | Diego Rivera (Mexico) — muralism
Fernando Botero (Colombia) — figurativism | Joan Miró (Spain) — abstract

Quick quiz

1. Painting = cuadro / _____.

2. Masterpiece = obra _____.

3. No flash photography = Prohibido fotos con _____.

4. Temporary exhibition = exposición _____.

5. Cubism = _____.

6. Audio guide = _____.

7. Picasso is associated with _____.

8. Frida Kahlo is from _____.

9. It conveys peace = Me transmite _____.

10. Sculpture = _____.

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