secular art

[ˈsɛk.jə.lər ɑrt]
noun phrasepl: secular arts
arte secular
1. Art created for non-religious purposes, focusing on worldly themes, human experience, and aesthetics rather than spiritual or divine subjects
The Renaissance saw a flourishing of secular art as artists began depicting mythological and historical subjects instead of only religious themes.
O Renascimento viu um florescimento da arte secular, pois os artistas começaram a retratar temas mitológicos e históricos em vez de apenas assuntos religiosos.
2. Artistic work independent from institutional religious influence or commissioned by non-religious patrons
Secular art in modern galleries often explores social issues and personal identity rather than theological concepts.
A arte secular em galerias modernas frequentemente explora questões sociais e identidade pessoal em vez de conceitos teológicos.
In Brazil, the concept of secular art gained prominence during modernist movements and contemporary art discourse. Portuguese maintains both 'secular' and 'laica' (lay) as translations, with the latter emphasizing the non-institutional religious aspect. In both cultures, secular art represents a shift from colonial and religious dominance toward democratic, diverse artistic expression reflecting human experience and social critique.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
profane artnon-religious artworldly arthumanistic artcontemporary art
Antonyms / Antônimos
religious artsacred artecclesiastical artspiritual artdevotional art

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
arte secular
Standard term used in academic and cultural contexts
São Paulo
arte secular / arte profana
Both terms commonly used in art institutions and universities
Rio de Janeiro
arte secular
Preferred in cultural and museum discourse
Portugal
arte secular / arte laica
Both variants used; 'arte laica' emphasizes the lay/non-clerical aspect

Related Words

secularismsecularizationRenaissance arthumananismaestheticismfine art

Related Idioms & Phrases

separation of art and church
worldly pursuits in art
beyond the altar
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