sfumato
/ˌsfjuːˈmɑː.təʊ/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A painting style where colors and edges blend softly, so there are no hard lines. It creates a hazy, smoky look.
- Leonardo used sfumato in the Mona Lisa.
- The artist painted the face with soft sfumato.
- Sfumato makes the background seem more atmospheric.
Adinary Nuance
Sfumato is close to terms like "blending," "soft shading," and "blurred edges," but it is more specific. Writers use it for a deliberate artistic effect, not just any soft look. It often suggests a refined, Renaissance-style technique, especially in painting.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- kỹ thuật nhòe
- Spanish
- sfumato
- Chinese
- 晕涂法
- Japanese
- スフマート
- Korean
- 스푸마토
Etymology
Sfumato comes from Italian, from sfumare, meaning "to evaporate" or "to fade like smoke." It became famous in Renaissance painting, especially in the work of Leonardo da Vinci.
Common phrases
sfumato techniqueuse sfumatopaint in sfumatothe sfumato effect
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is sfumato a common English word?
- No, it is mainly used in art, art history, and criticism.
- What is the difference between sfumato and chiaroscuro?
- Sfumato blurs edges softly. Chiaroscuro uses strong light and dark contrast.
- Can I use sfumato in everyday English?
- Usually no. It sounds specialized and artistic.
- How do you use sfumato in a sentence?
- Say: "The portrait uses sfumato to soften the facial features."