chiaroscuro

noun

chiar·​oscu·​ro kē-ˌär-ə-ˈskyu̇r-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce chiaroscuro (audio)
-ˈsku̇r-
plural chiaroscuros
1
: pictorial representation in terms of light and shade without regard to color
2
a
: the arrangement or treatment of light and dark parts in a pictorial work of art
The artist uses chiaroscuro to create the perception of depth in a two-dimensional work.
b
: the interplay or contrast of dissimilar qualities (as of mood or character)
3
: a 16th century woodcut technique involving the use of several blocks to print different tones of the same color
also : a print made by this technique
4
: the interplay of light and shadow on or as if on a surface
a spotlight revealing a chiaroscuro of ridges and craters on a mountainside
5
: the quality of being veiled or partly in shadow

Examples of chiaroscuro in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web His chiaroscuro technique, which uses light and darkness for depth and has been compared to Rembrandt’s and Caravaggio’s, quickly won the admiration of King George III and other British nobles. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2024 Her abiding interest in textiles was also evident in her choice of a chiaroscuro palette intended to reflect life’s experiences and its nuances, providing wisdom and experience that is visible in every garment in her collection. Sennait Ghebreab, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2024 His The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, a large-scale chiaroscuro masterpiece, decorates the Oratory, for which it was painted, alongside his smaller but also impressive Saint Jerome Writing. Jordan Riefe, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2024 But whereas Manet’s language is unabashedly Impressionist, and his courtesan exudes confidence, agency, and authority, Degas remains wedded to a more traditional chiaroscuro, as befits a Realist painter, and presents an encounter that is mysterious, unsettling, and possibly violent. Sam Needleman, The New York Review of Books, 6 Jan. 2024 The mood is shadowy, the palette a turbulent chiaroscuro. The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2023 In place of bright, acidic colors and translucent atmospheres, there’s lots of chiaroscuro. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2023 An emotional chiaroscuro, her facial expression is etched into marble to communicate the extreme agony and ecstasy caused by fleeting contact with the divine and an immense sense of loss brought on by the knowledge that such a momentous experience must soon come to an end. Michael Teo Van Runkle, Ars Technica, 30 Oct. 2023 Kerby showed me a video of the sleeper gliding by in dramatic chiaroscuro and closely approaching both subs, one after the other, while excited scientists shouted in the background. Susan Casey, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chiaroscuro.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from chiaro clear, light + oscuro obscure, dark

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chiaroscuro was in 1686

Dictionary Entries Near chiaroscuro

Cite this Entry

“Chiaroscuro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chiaroscuro. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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