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synthetism

noun, often capitalized
syn·​the·​tism | \ ˈsin(t)thəˌtizəm\
plural -s

Definition of synthetism

: an art theory current in France about 1890 that a painting is to be considered a formal arrangement of color on a flat surface before it is a particular representation — compare nabi

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History and Etymology for synthetism

Greek synthetos put together, composed + English -ism

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