 Realism depicts what is seen as it appears.  Realism in the visual arts is the depiction of subjects as they appear in everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation.

 Impressionism depicts what is seen as light, shadow and emotions that affect it.  Characteristics of Impressionist painting include visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage of time), ordinary subject matter, the inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience, and unusual visual angles.

 Abstract art depicts what is seen in a way that is recognizable but is distorted or simplified.  Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which exists independently of visual references to the world.

 Non-Objective art depicts forms in a way that is not connected with reality and is often created in geometric shapes.