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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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of illusionism

First recorded in 1835–45; illusion + -ism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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

Graphically, its sophistication is immense, switching back and forth between flat typography and 3-D illusionism.

From Washington Post Oct. 26, 2020

Amid the false-fronts of Paramount’s New York street movie-set, they’ve installed works loosely connected to themes of illusionism, myth-making and representation in mass entertainment.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 14, 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

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