<p>I agree, &quot;Clip Art&quot; or &quot;Graphic Arts&quot; would seem an appropriate answer.</p>
<p>Also, they might be described as &quot;icons&quot; or &quot;avatars&quot; in another usage. Again, the answer to this question is perhaps largely a factor of where the clips are used, what they are being used for and how they are included.</p>
<p>There is a lovely &quot;quirky&quot; humorous flavour to them. They could be used in a &quot;satirical&quot; way, or perhaps just as a &quot;quirky&quot; or even &quot;geeky&quot; personal avatar by different people. I actually like them.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-08T08:12:49.963Z
2020-07-23T07:31:11.840Z
2020-07-23T07:31:11.840Z
Charles F
<p>The subject matter has a dreamlike hybridity, as it always seems to conflate two visually or associatively related but causally illogical or impossible, unlikely, and mostly absurd, objects. In that sense <strong>it can be described as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_art" rel="nofollow noreferrer">dream art</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism" rel="nofollow noreferrer">surrealism</a></strong>, although both are quite broad terms.</p>
<p>The cartoon-like art style directly reminds me of that of the animated TV series <a href="https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=archer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Archer</a>, which art style is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archer_%282009_TV_series%29" rel="nofollow noreferrer">described</a> as &quot;<em><strong>mid-century comic art</strong></em>&quot;, although in both cases <strong>the shading is a more modern, digital-age, toon shading</strong>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-23T08:05:35.887Z
2020-07-23T08:05:35.887Z
Joachim
<p>I would classify these as surrealist graphic icons, maybe? There are definitely simplified elements of surrealism here. If you find this style interesting though, and your goal is to immerse yourself in similar images, try your hand at these searches:
Simple iconography, 
Simple surrealism, 
Line art illustrations, 
Vintage illustrations, 
Vintage surrealism, 
Vintage instructional art... </p>

<p>I say instructional, because there is quite a bit of interesting and simple art that has been produced in the style of small, easily digestible cards and pages. You might like what you find.</p>

<p>Then again, I could be totally off base! Either way, happy art hunting!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-13T23:23:13.300Z
2018-06-13T23:23:13.300Z
Alee
<p>Is there a particular term for style of illustration found on <a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/198773/codenames-pictures" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Codenames: Pictures</a> cards, and/or is there a term for the subject matter?</p>

<p>Ideally I'd like a term, or phrase, or something to describe the subject matter specifically -- this weird combination of everyday objects, like the butterflies coming out of the steam of a teapot, the ice cream cone with the 8-ball, the briefcase with the house inside, the fish on the hamster wheel, or the snowman-bee thing with the flower.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/N4HJ1.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/N4HJ1.jpg" alt="Codenames: Pictures board"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mHG8l.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mHG8l.jpg" alt="another Codenames: Pictures board"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-06T23:58:14.353Z
A word or phrase encoded in a picture is a "rebus" but these do not appear to be rebuses. The illustration style is "clip art" like, but beyond that I do not think there is an answer to your question. These are just drawings of arbitrary associations that fit into the gameplay.
rebusB
<style-identification><illustration>
Is there a name for this style and/or "subject matter" of art?
Doktor J
# Is there a name for this style and/or "subject matter" of art?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-01)

Is there a particular term for style of illustration found on [Codenames: Pictures](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/198773/codenames-pictures) cards, and/or is there a term for the subject matter?

Ideally I'd like a term, or phrase, or something to describe the subject matter specifically -- this weird combination of everyday objects, like the butterflies coming out of the steam of a teapot, the ice cream cone with the 8-ball, the briefcase with the house inside, the fish on the hamster wheel, or the snowman-bee thing with the flower.

[![Codenames: Pictures board](https://i.sstatic.net/N4HJ1.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/N4HJ1.jpg)

[![another Codenames: Pictures board](https://i.sstatic.net/mHG8l.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/mHG8l.jpg)

**Tags:** style-identification, illustration

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: A word or phrase encoded in a picture is a "rebus" but these do not appear to be rebuses. The illustration style is "clip art" like, but beyond that I do not think there is an answer to your question. These are just drawings of arbitrary associations that fit into the gameplay.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-06-08. Score: 5

I agree, "Clip Art" or "Graphic Arts" would seem an appropriate answer.

Also, they might be described as "icons" or "avatars" in another usage. Again, the answer to this question is perhaps largely a factor of where the clips are used, what they are being used for and how they are included.

There is a lovely "quirky" humorous flavour to them. They could be used in a "satirical" way, or perhaps just as a "quirky" or even "geeky" personal avatar by different people. I actually like them.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2020-07-23. Score: 3

The subject matter has a dreamlike hybridity, as it always seems to conflate two visually or associatively related but causally illogical or impossible, unlikely, and mostly absurd, objects. In that sense **it can be described as [dream art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_art) or [surrealism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism)**, although both are quite broad terms.

The cartoon-like art style directly reminds me of that of the animated TV series [Archer](https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=archer), which art style is [described](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archer_%282009_TV_series%29) as "***mid-century comic art***", although in both cases **the shading is a more modern, digital-age, toon shading**.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2018-06-13. Score: 2

I would classify these as surrealist graphic icons, maybe? There are definitely simplified elements of surrealism here. If you find this style interesting though, and your goal is to immerse yourself in similar images, try your hand at these searches:
Simple iconography,
Simple surrealism,
Line art illustrations,
Vintage illustrations,
Vintage surrealism,
Vintage instructional art...

I say instructional, because there is quite a bit of interesting and simple art that has been produced in the style of small, easily digestible cards and pages. You might like what you find.

Then again, I could be totally off base! Either way, happy art hunting!


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