What does "pictorialism" mean?
A school of artistic photography that emphasized using photography to mimic certain styles of contemporary painting, that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
Pictorialism
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A school of artistic photography that emphasized using photography to mimic certain styles of contemporary painting, that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
- Grammar: pictorialism is listed as noun.
- Usage evidence: The black-and-white portraits and landscapes […] fall somewhere between photojournalism and pictorialism.
How to use "pictorialism"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pictorialism" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pictorialism" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pictorialism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A school of artistic photography that emphasized using photography to mimic certain styles of contemporary painting, that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries countable, uncountable
- 2 Any artistic use of photography to imitate painting, especially using pictorial conventions. countable, uncountable
"The black-and-white portraits and landscapes […] fall somewhere between photojournalism and pictorialism."
- 3 The theory that mental imagery is visual rather than based on language-like description. countable, uncountable
Example
"The black-and-white portraits and landscapes […] fall somewhere between photojournalism and pictorialism."
Common questions
How do you use "pictorialism" in a sentence?
The black-and-white portraits and landscapes […] fall somewhere between photojournalism and pictorialism.
Etymology
From pictorial + -ism.