chiaroscuro

American  

[kee-ahr-uh-skyoor-oh] / kiˌɑr əˈskyʊər oʊ /

noun

plural

chiaroscuros

1. the distribution of light and shade in a picture.

2. Painting. the use of deep variations in and subtle gradations of light and shade, especially to enhance the delineation of character and for general dramatic effect.

   Rembrandt is a master of chiaroscuro.

3. a woodcut print in which the colors are produced by the use of different blocks with different colors.

4. a sketch in light and shade.

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chiaroscuro British  

/ kɪˌɑːrəˈskʊərəʊ /

noun

1. the artistic distribution of light and dark masses in a picture

2. monochrome painting using light and dark only, as in grisaille

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Other Word Forms

• chiaroscurism
  noun
• chiaroscurist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of chiaroscuro

1680–90; < Italian, equivalent to chiaro bright (< Latin clārus ) + oscuro dark (< Latin obscūrus ). See clear, obscure

Explanation

Chiaroscuro is an Italian artistic term used to describe the dramatic effect of contrasting areas of light and dark in an artwork, particularly paintings. It comes from the combination of the Italian words for "light" and "dark." Nowadays chiaroscuro applies to a far wider array of dramatic lighting effects, particularly in movies — anything dark and moody with great slashes of shadow, is very chiaroscuro. Film Noir, of all the film genres, is the best example of chiaroscuro. Chiaroscuro remains essentially a technical word, though, and is not often used in everyday conversation — unless you happen to be a film critic of course.

Example Sentences

Femm receives much of its income from private donors including the Chiaroscuro Foundation, a charity backed almost exclusively by Sean Fieler, a wealthy Catholic hedge-funder based in New York.

From The Guardian • May 30, 2019

Chiaroscuro of another variety is on offer in the Domus Aurea, the timeworn, underground shell of Nero’s vast and sprawling mansion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2018

Both "Take Two" and "Chiaroscuro" are available as physical discs and on most of the usual download and streaming sites.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2015

Greg Pfundstein, executive director of the Chiaroscuro Foundation, an anti-abortion group in New York, questioned whether parents were really giving informed consent.

From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2012

At this pronouncement, Chiaroscuro, who was still at Mig’s side, did a small, deliberate jig of joy; in the light of the one candle, his dancing shadow was large and fearsome indeed.

From "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread" by Kate DiCamillo

Related Words

• cloudy
• leafy
• shaded
• shadowy