When artists make a picture, they usually choose one of three classic types. Each type has its own special name that tells you what the picture is mostly about. Knowing these names helps you talk about art like a real museum guide.

A portrait is a picture that shows a person, and sometimes an animal. It usually focuses on the face so you can see who they are and even guess how they feel. When you take a selfie, you are really making a quick portrait.

A landscape is a picture of a place, like mountains, a beach, or a busy city street. Landscapes usually show lots of open space, with the sky up high and the ground down low. They make you feel like you could walk right into the scene.

A still life is a picture of objects that do not move, such as a bowl of fruit, a vase of flowers, or some old shoes. Artists like still lifes because the objects hold perfectly still while they practice shapes, colors, and shadows.

Once you know these three types, you will start spotting them everywhere. The same word landscape is even used for the way you can turn a tablet sideways to make the screen wider than it is tall.