illusionism

American  

[ih-loo-zhuh-niz-uhm] / ɪˈlu ʒəˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. a technique of using pictorial methods in order to deceive the eye.

2. Philosophy. a theory or doctrine that the material world is an illusion.

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illusionism British  

/ ɪˈluːʒəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. philosophy the doctrine that the external world exists only in illusory sense perceptions

2. the use of highly illusory effects in art or decoration, esp the use of perspective in painting to create an impression of three-dimensional reality

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Other Word Forms

• illusionistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of illusionism

First recorded in 1835–45; illusion + -ism

Example Sentences

A genre of mostly paintings whose subject matter is photographs and whose prevailing style is precise illusionism began to emerge in the late 1960s.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2024

That, at least, is how the story of Cubism usually goes: a story of an utter break with illusionism.

From New York Times • Nov. 11, 2022

Painting as a rectilinear portal on the world, it seemed at the time, belonged to an age of mere illusionism.

From Washington Post • Jun. 28, 2022

Perversely, the expensive CGI achieves the opposite effect of those spandex and leg warmer outfits — it trades real theatricality for slipshod illusionism, pushing you out instead of pulling you in.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2020

But illusionism is only one vehicle for expressing an artist’s understanding of reality.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson