Definition

A painter who focuses on using light and shadow to create depth and volume in their artwork, rather than relying on color.

Example

The chiaroscurist skillfully blended light and dark to give the painting a three-dimensional effect.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a chiaroscurist?

No, I haven't. What do they do?

They’re artists who use light and shade to create depth in their paintings.

That sounds really interesting! I’d love to see some examples.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Chiaroscurist → It is formed from "chiaro" (from Italian, meaning light or clear) and "scuro" (from Italian, meaning dark or obscure) with the suffix "-ist" (meaning one who practices or is concerned with). A chiaroscurist is someone who specializes in the technique of using light and shadow in art.

Memory Tip

Think of a person who works with both 'light' ('chiaro') and 'dark' ('scuro') to create depth in their art — that's what a chiaroscurist does.

Visually Confused Words