chiaroscuro meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

chiaroscuro

noun

UK /kɪˌɑːɹəˈskʊəɹəʊ/ · US /ˌkjɑɹəˈsk(j)ʊɹoʊ/

Etymology First attested in the mid-17th century, borrowed from Italian chiaroscuro, from chiaro (“clear, bright”) + oscuro (“dark, obscure”).

An 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.

A monochrome picture made by using several different shades of the same color.

Art, Arts A woodcut technique in which several woodcut blocks are used to print different shades of a color, or a woodcut print made by this technique.

Arts, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Photography A photographic technique in which one side of the subject, for example a face, is well lit and the other is in shadow.

Derived terms: chiaroscurist, chiaroscuroed
Coordinate terms: contrast

chiaroscuro

adj

Etymology First attested in the mid-17th century, borrowed from Italian chiaroscuro, from chiaro (“clear, bright”) + oscuro (“dark, obscure”).

Figuratively Possessing the qualities of a work of chiaroscuro.

It has been a very chiaroscuro day—lots of sunlight and shadow.1913, The Saturday Evening Post - Volume 185, Issue 7, page 21:
It is cruder than the others, more graphic, less chiaroscuro.1962, Charles Neider, The frozen sea: a study of Franz Kafka, page 90:

4 more examples

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: