How to Name a Painting: A Complete Guide With Examples and Creative Tips

Naming a painting can be surprisingly difficult. After you’ve poured your emotions into a canvas, picking just a few words to capture that feeling might feel like trying to whisper the plot of an entire novel. But the title of a painting matters. It can guide your viewer’s experience, hint at a hidden story, or leave just the right amount of mystery.

If you’ve ever stared at a finished piece and thought, “What do I call this?” — this guide is for you. Here’s how to name a painting thoughtfully, meaningfully, and with creative clarity, including real-world examples and insights to help you decide what fits best.

Why Naming a Painting Matters

• It gives context: A title can offer viewers a way into the piece, hinting at mood, theme, or subject.
• It adds emotional resonance: Some titles trigger strong reactions or deeper thought.
• It helps with recall and sharing: Especially online or in exhibitions, a memorable title helps people talk about and remember your work.
• It reflects your voice as an artist: Whether poetic, ironic, philosophical, or minimalist, your title is part of your creative language.

Types of Painting Titles (and How to Choose One)

1. Descriptive Titles

These explain exactly what the viewer sees, offering clarity and precision.

• Example: Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer

Thoughts: Descriptive titles are especially useful if your work is representational. They invite the viewer into the scene without guessing. This approach works well in realism or portraiture, but can feel limiting in more abstract or symbolic art.

2. Emotional or Mood-Based Titles

These focus on the feeling or atmosphere of the piece, rather than its literal subject.

• Example: The Scream by Edvard Munch

Thoughts: Emotional titles can be powerful, especially when the painting is expressive or psychological. They often create a visceral connection and can deepen the meaning behind abstract forms or unusual scenes.

3. Poetic or Symbolic Titles

These leave room for interpretation, inviting curiosity and personal reflection.

• Example: Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

Thoughts: Poetic titles are beautiful for conveying tone and rhythm. They don’t tell the viewer what to think—they offer a mood or a whisper of meaning. Perfect for impressionism, dreamlike art, or anything with metaphor.

4. Conceptual or Philosophical Titles

These lean toward abstract ideas, concepts, or commentary on broader themes.

• Example: The Treachery of Images by René Magritte

Thoughts: If your work challenges reality or plays with language, conceptual titles can frame your intention. They often invite debate, especially when paired with visual contradictions or minimalist compositions.

5. Personal or Anecdotal Titles

These reflect something specific to your life, memory, or private symbolism.

• Example: No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock

Thoughts: Personal titles may seem cryptic to others, but they hold deep meaning for you. You can use dates, numbers, or inside references. This approach lets the art speak more freely, especially in modern or expressionist styles.

Creative Tips for Naming Your Painting

1. Sit With the Painting First

Let the piece “speak” to you. Sometimes, the title will come in a whisper after the brushstrokes have settled. Look at it from different angles, under different light, and note any words or impressions that surface.

2. Write Down Word Associations

Jot down colors, emotions, metaphors, locations, and even song lyrics that come to mind. This list can help you find a theme or title direction you hadn’t noticed before.

3. Think Like a Poet

Use literary devices like alliteration, metaphor, and double meaning. Instead of “Blue House,” try “Where the Sky Sleeps” or “Hollow Shelter.” Short, vivid titles often feel more impactful than long literal ones.

4. Consider Your Audience

Are you selling to collectors? Showing in a gallery? Posting on Instagram? Tailoring your title slightly for your audience can help it land more effectively without losing its integrity.

5. Use Language Playfully or Subtly

Wordplay can be powerful. Think of titles like Still Life With Apples versus This Is Not a Pipe. Both name the object, but in totally different tones.

Real-World Title Examples (With Commentary)

• The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí
  Thoughts: This surrealist masterpiece could’ve been called “Melting Clocks,” but Dalí chose a poetic title that makes you think beyond what you see. It invites philosophical reflection and aligns with his dreamlike themes.
• Composition VII by Wassily Kandinsky
  Thoughts: By using a neutral, almost scientific title, Kandinsky directs your attention away from meaning and toward the experience of color and form. It’s about movement, not narrative.
• Guernica by Pablo Picasso
  Thoughts: This title directly names the Spanish town bombed in 1937. Simple, direct, and grounded in reality—it ties the image to history and carries deep emotional gravity.
• Ophelia by John Everett Millais
  Thoughts: Named after a Shakespearean character, this title frames the entire painting through a literary lens. Even if you don’t know the story, the name adds depth and tragedy.
• Infinity Mirrored Room – The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away by Yayoi Kusama
  Thoughts: This long, poetic title mirrors the cosmic experience of Kusama’s installation. It doesn’t describe—it evokes. The words act as a second artwork, in language.

When You Can’t Decide, Try This

Still stuck? Here are a few quick prompts to help:

• What was the first word or feeling you had when you finished it?
• Is there a song lyric or poem line that matches the mood?
• If your painting was a movie scene, what would the title card say?
• What would someone call this piece in a hundred years?

Final Thoughts

Naming a painting isn’t about being clever—it’s about being honest, intentional, and sometimes even brave. The right title can elevate your work, anchor your meaning, or let mystery linger in just the right way.

Let the painting breathe. Let the words come. And remember: you’re not just naming an image—you’re giving it a life.

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Featured image source: edition.cnn.com