Tenebrism
/ˈtɛn.ə.brɪ.zəm/noun
A style in painting that uses violent contrasts of light and dark, especially dramatic shadow.
Did you know?Tenebrism comes from Latin tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “gloom,” and it became famous in Baroque art for turning shadow itself into a dramatic, almost ritual force.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
tenebrae
“darkness, gloom, shadows”
Late Latin
Latin
tenebrismus
“a darkness-based style or condition”
17th Century
Italian/Art Latin
tenebrismo
“a dramatic painting style emphasizing deep shadow and stark light”
19th Century
English
tenebrism
“the use of violent chiaroscuro in painting”
Modern English
English
tenebrism
“a style of painting marked by intense contrasts of light and dark”
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