pictorialism
noun
pic·to·ri·al·ism
pik-ˈtȯr-ē-ə-ˌli-zəm 
1
: the use or creation of pictures or visual images
2
: a movement or technique in photography emphasizing artificial often romanticized pictorial qualities
Examples of pictorialism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sections focusing on opacity and transparency, color, and pictorialism display the range of variables that artists can manipulate to explore new forms.
—
K. L. H. Wells, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024
Though Jordan delights in scenes filmed in the ring and brings a graphic pictorialism to the dramatized bouts, there’s little attention to strategy, little discussion of who’s doing what to whom, how and why and to what effect.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2023
After about 1910, some Black photographers joined white peers in adopting the techniques of pictorialism, using soft focus, short depth of field and relaxed poses to produce more artistic, expressive images.
—Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022
Numerous styles are reflected in the book including pictorialism, abstraction and candid street photography from the likes of Henri Cartier-Bresson, André Kertész and Alfred Stieglitz, among others.
—Jeff Campagna, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2021
Her way is short on pomp in her exquisite calligraphic musical pictorialism.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
K. L. H. Wells, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024
Though Jordan delights in scenes filmed in the ring and brings a graphic pictorialism to the dramatized bouts, there’s little attention to strategy, little discussion of who’s doing what to whom, how and why and to what effect.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2023
After about 1910, some Black photographers joined white peers in adopting the techniques of pictorialism, using soft focus, short depth of field and relaxed poses to produce more artistic, expressive images.
—Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022
Numerous styles are reflected in the book including pictorialism, abstraction and candid street photography from the likes of Henri Cartier-Bresson, André Kertész and Alfred Stieglitz, among others.
—Jeff Campagna, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2021
Her way is short on pomp in her exquisite calligraphic musical pictorialism.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2021
Dictionary Entries Near pictorialism
Cite this Entry
“Pictorialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pictorialism. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share