Rhyparographer
/ˌrɪpərˈɒɡrəfər/noun
An artist who depicts commonplace, humble, or sordid subjects.
Did you know?The term echoes an ancient Greek artistic category associated with paintings of humble or unpleasant everyday subjects, including the celebrated low-life painter Piraeicus described by Pliny.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ῥύπος (rhýpos)
“Dirt, filth, or physical grime”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ῥυπαρός (rhyparós)
“Dirty, filthy, or sordid”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ῥυπαρογράφος (rhyparográphos)
“A painter or writer of sordid or low subjects”
19th Century
English
rhyparographer
“An artist specializing in commonplace, humble, or unpleasant subjects”
Modern English
English
rhyparographer
“A rare art-historical term for a painter of low-life or sordid scenes”