chiaroscuro

[ kee-ahr-uh-skyoo r-oh ]
/ kiˌɑr əˈskyʊər oʊ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR chiaroscuro ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural chi·a·ro·scu·ros.

the distribution of light and shade in a picture.
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.
a woodcut print in which the colors are produced by the use of different blocks with different colors.
a sketch in light and shade.

Origin of chiaroscuro

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

Words nearby chiaroscuro

chiantishire, chiao, chiaochou, chiapas, chiari's syndrome, chiaroscuro, chiasma, chiasmatypy, chiasmus, chiastic, chiastolite

Words related to chiaroscuro

shadowy, shaded, leafy, cloudy, cool, dim, dusky, indistinct, sheltered, vague, screened, umbrageous, adumbral, bosky, shadowed

Example sentences from the Web for chiaroscuro

British Dictionary definitions for chiaroscuro

chiaroscuro
/ (kɪˌɑːrəˈskʊərəʊ) /

noun plural -ros

the artistic distribution of light and dark masses in a picture
monochrome painting using light and dark only, as in grisaille

Derived forms of chiaroscuro

chiaroscurist, noun chiaroscurism, noun

Word Origin for chiaroscuro

C17: from Italian, from chiaro clear + oscuro obscure