constructivism

American  

[kuhn-struhk-tuh-viz-uhm] / kənˈstrʌk təˌvɪz əm /

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter)

1. Fine Arts. a nonrepresentational style of art developed by a group of Russian artists principally in the early 20th century, characterized chiefly by a severely formal organization of mass, volume, and space, and by the employment of modern industrial materials.

2. Theater. a style of scenic design characterized by abstraction, simplification, and stylization rather than realistic imitation.

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constructivism British  

/ kənˈstrʌktɪˌvɪzəm /

noun

1. a movement in abstract art evolved in Russia after World War I, primarily by Naum Gabo, which explored the use of movement and machine-age materials in sculpture and had considerable influence on modern art and architecture

2. philosophy the theory that mathematical entities do not exist independently of our construction of them Compare intuitionism finitism

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• constructivist
  noun
• constructivist
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of constructivism

First recorded in 1920–25; constructive + -ism

Example Sentences

It showcases a collection of about 70 artworks in various formats representing different trends, from figurative art to futurism and constructivism.

From Reuters • Nov. 29, 2022

He traveled around Europe to learn about different building styles — art deco in Lisbon, constructivism in Moscow.

From Washington Post • Aug. 25, 2022

That year also saw the temporary appointment of Theo van Doesburg, the founder of the Dutch De Stijl movement, who influenced Bauhaus’s aesthetic shift toward constructivism.

From New York Times • Aug. 10, 2016

Jerome Bruner is one of the founders of constructivism.

From Time • Jun. 6, 2014

A moderate interpretation of the Duhem-Quine thesis leads to a mixed constructivism, in which evidence and culture each have a part to play in the construction of scientific beliefs.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton