What is the difference between representational and nonrepresentational art?

Representational art depicts recognizable subjects from the real world, such as people, landscapes, or objects, aiming to represent them in a way that viewers can identify. In contrast, nonrepresentational art (or abstract art) does not attempt to represent specific objects or scenes, focusing instead on elements like colors, shapes, and forms to evoke emotions or concepts without a direct visual reference. The key difference lies in the presence or absence of recognizable imagery.