chiaroscuro
/kɪˌɑːrəˈskʊərəʊ
/noun [mass noun]
1The treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting.The brusque application of plaster disrupts the logic of the painting's chiaroscuro....
- Each vignette, usually showing one or two figures, is a little anthology of effects, combining contour drawing, crosshatching, chiaroscuro, graphic boldness and delicate detailing.
- Then he saw the light - in the form of Caravaggio's dramatic chiaroscuro - and became one of that master's most resourceful followers.
1.1An effect of contrasted light and shadow: the chiaroscuro of cobbled streets...
- Inhabiting these buildings are the depth, the reflections, the veils, the chiaroscuros, and an attenuated clarity that are created by the shade.
- The column screens and niches around the room create a mysterious and alluring chiaroscuro effect.
- I also distrust the general air onstage of High Significance, which owes far too much to the handsome chiaroscuro of the lighting and the future-chic costumes.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Italian, from chiaro 'clear, bright' (from Latin clarus) + oscuro 'dark, obscure' (from Latin obscurus).
Rhymes
- every
- every bit as
- everybody
- every cloud has a silver lining
- everyday
- every dog has his (or its) day
- every few
- every inch
- every last (or every single)
- Everyman
- every man for himself and the Devil take the hindmost
- every man has his price
- every man jack
- every nook and corner
- every nook and cranny
- every now and again (or now and then)
- every one
- everyone
- every other (or every second)
- ever yours
- every penny
- everyplace
- every second
- every so often
- everything