ekphrasis
Say it: ek-FRAY-sis /ˈɛkfrəsɪs/ · noun
What “ekphrasis” means
Writing that vividly describes a work of visual art.
More precisely: A vivid literary description of a work of visual art.
Example: “Keats's 'Ode on a Grecian Urn' is the most famous ekphrasis in English.”
When to use it
In literary study, when a poem or passage brings a painting, sculpture or other artwork vividly to life.
Similar words
description, word painting
Where it comes from
Greek, 'description', from ekphrazein 'to describe'.
Quick check
At a gallery, you write a vivid poem describing the colours and figures in one painting. What are you creating?
ekphrasis or mimesis?
Show the answer
ekphrasis
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