chiaroscuro

plural chiaroscuros · plural chiaroscuri · alternative archaic chiaro-oscuro · alternative archaic claro-obscuro · alternative obsolete chiaro-scuro

1. countableuncountablepaintingAn artistic technique developed during the Renaissance, referring to the use of strong contrasts between light and dark in order to create the illusion of volume.
2. countableuncountablepaintingA monochrome picture made by using several different shades of the same color.
3. countableuncountableartA woodcut technique in which several woodcut blocks are used to print different shades of a color, or a woodcut print made by this technique.
4. countableuncountableartsA photographic technique in which one side of the subject, for example a face, is well lit and the other is in shadow.

   Synonyms: Rembrandt lighting

comparative more chiaroscuro · superlative most chiaroscuro · alternative archaic chiaro-oscuro · alternative archaic claro-obscuro · alternative obsolete chiaro-scuro

1. figurativelyPossessing the qualities of a work of chiaroscuro.

   It is cruder than the others, more graphic, less chiaroscuro.

   1962, Charles Neider, The frozen sea: a study of Franz Kafka, page 90

   5 more examples

   It has been a very chiaroscuro day—lots of sunlight and shadow.

   1913, The Saturday Evening Post - Volume 185, Issue 7, page 21

   A somewhat " chiaroscuro " effect, which imparts a strong feeling of rotundity to the bronze helmet, is achieved by the artist's bold use of broad hatching along its upper contours.

   1970, Archeologia classica - Volumes 22-23, page 56

   'Rome's a very chiaroscuro city, I've always thought,' said Tom Richardson eventually, sensing that the lull in the conversation was going to be a protracted one.

   1983 -, Max Davidson, The Wolf, page 68

   I heard them discussing painting, and the two pictures Veronique had purchased from Allegra's sale: a haunting nude, very chiaroscuro, and another — more colorful and enigmatic — of a woman before a screen, holding an Oriental mask.

   1984, Francesca Stanfill, Shadows and light

   To minimize the problem, we used dark skies, very chiaroscuro lighting, and decided that the whole film would take place at night."

   1993, American Cinematographer - Volume 74, page 55