ˈpȯin-tə-ˌli-zəm
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Definition of pointillism
: the theory or practice in art of applying small strokes or dots of color to a surface so that from a distance they blend together
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Other words from pointillism
ˈpȯin-tə-list
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noun
Examples of pointillism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Abigail Fischer sings the piece vividly, with members of Sequitur, conducted by Jayce Ogren, moving easily through the score’s episodes of pointillism, stateliness and hazy dissonance. — Allan Kozinn, WSJ, "Romantic Lushness Meets Post-Tonal Grittiness," 30 May 2018 Just like the Seurat painting, minus the class status and pointillism. — Elisa Albert, Longreads, "O, Small-bany!," 7 May 2018 Roxi Satni: @roxitattoo Roxi Satni specializes in blackwork, pointillism, and geometric tattooing. — Andrea Alonso, Los Angeles Magazine, "12 L.A.-Based Women Tattoo Artists You Need to Follow on Instagram," 2 Apr. 2018 Polka Dot Remember pointillism from your Art History 101 class? — Devon Abelman, Allure, "13 Unexpected Ways to Wear Winged Eyeliner That Are Taking Over Instagram," 9 Mar. 2018 Ruscha employs a kind of sonic pointillism to create swirling melodies and softened rhythms. — Randall Roberts, latimes.com, "California Sounds: E Ruscha V video premiere, and new songs by Alice Bag, the Marías and Lord Huron," 1 Mar. 2018 Meltzer’s Piano Quartet, which alternates between prickly pointillism and full-voiced lyricism, makes an inviting curtain-raiser. — Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, "CD review: Harold Meltzer, ‘Variations on a Summer Day’," 17 Jan. 2018 What’s behind pointillism is divisionism, the new scientific theories of light and color and ocular perception. — Lorraine Boissoneault, Smithsonian, "Prehistoric Pointillism? Long Before Seurat, Ancient Artists Chiseled Mammoths Out of Dots," 27 Feb. 2017 At Chauvet Cave, large dots created using the palm of the hand are used to represent animals like bison in a very early use of pointillism. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Dig This: Researchers Found a 38,000-Year-Old Engraving in France," 31 Jan. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pointillism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
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Time Traveler for pointillism
The first known use of pointillism was in 1897
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More Definitions for pointillism
pointillism
noun
English Language Learners Definition of pointillism
: a style of painting in which a picture is formed from small dots of color
See the full definition for pointillism in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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