# chiaroscuro

> English word · Noun · IPA /kɪˌɑːɹəˈskʊəɹəʊ/ · frequency rank #79,376

## Definitions
1. An artistic technique developed during the Renaissance, referring to the use of strong contrasts between light and dark in order to create the illusion of volume.
2. A monochrome picture made by using several different shades of the same color.
3. A woodcut technique in which several woodcut blocks are used to print different shades of a color, or a woodcut print made by this technique.
4. A photographic technique in which one side of the subject, for example a face, is well lit and the other is in shadow.

## Etymology
Mid-17th century, borrowed from Italian chiaroscuro, from chiaro (“clear, bright”) + oscuro (“dark, obscure”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/chiaroscuro