Tenebrismus
tenebrism (extreme light-dark painting style)
noun te-ne-BRIS-moos Rare
Origin: from Latin 'tenebrae' (darkness)
Usage Note
Tenebrismus is a painting style characterised by dramatic illumination of figures against a predominantly dark background. Associated with Caravaggio, it was widely adopted by his followers (Caravaggisten) across 17th-century Europe.
Examples
"Der Tenebrismus verleiht dem Gemälde eine theatralische, fast dramatische Wirkung."
Natural Translation
Tenebrism gives the painting a theatrical, almost dramatic effect.
Literal Translation
The tenebrism lends the painting a theatrical, almost dramatic effect.
Related Words
- Abguss cast, casting (plaster or metal replica of a sculpture)
- Abstraktion abstraction (non-representational art)
- Acrylfarbe acrylic paint
- Akanthus acanthus (decorative leaf motif)
- Akt nude
- Aktmalerei nude painting; figure painting
- Aktmodell life model; nude model (for drawing or painting)
- Aktzeichnung life drawing, figure drawing (of the nude)
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