chiaroscuros

Variant of chiaroscuro

noun pl. chiaroscuros

  1. light and shade in a painting, drawing, etc. treated so as to produce the illusion of depth, a dramatic effect, etc.
  2. a style of painting, drawing, etc. emphasizing this
  3. a painting, drawing, etc. in which chiaroscuro is used

Origin: It, lit., clear dark < L clarus, clear + obscurus, dark: see obscure

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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