Ekphrasis

Pronunciation: /ɛkˈfreɪsɪs/

Definitions of ekphrasis

noun A rhetorical device in which one medium of art is used to describe or comment on another medium

Example Sentences

A1 Ekphrasis is a form of writing that describes a work of art.

A2 She wrote a beautiful ekphrasis poem about a painting she saw at the museum.

B1 The novel included an ekphrasis of a famous sculpture from ancient Greece.

B2 The artist created a series of paintings inspired by ekphrasis poems.

C1 Her ekphrasis of the sculpture captured the intricate details and emotions of the artwork.

C2 The museum hosted an exhibition featuring ekphrasis pieces alongside the original artworks.

Examples of ekphrasis in a Sentence

formal The art critic analyzed the ekphrasis in the poem, noting the intricate details described.

informal The artist really captured the essence of the painting in his ekphrasis.

slang I love how the rapper incorporated ekphrasis into his lyrics, it adds a whole new layer to the song.

figurative Her description of the sunset was like an ekphrasis, painting a vivid picture in my mind.

Grammatical Forms of ekphrasis

• past tense: ekphrased
• plural: ekphrases
• comparative: more ekphrastic
• superlative: most ekphrastic
• present tense: ekphrases
• future tense: will ekphrasis
• perfect tense: have ekphrased
• continuous tense: is ekphrasing
• singular: ekphrasis
• positive degree: ekphrasis
• infinitive: to ekphrasis
• gerund: ekphrasing
• participle: ekphrased

Origin and Evolution of ekphrasis

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'ekphrasis' originated from the Greek language, derived from the combination of 'ek' (out) and 'phrasis' (speak).

Evolution of the word: Originally used in ancient Greece to describe a vivid description of a work of art, the term 'ekphrasis' has evolved to encompass a broader range of artistic responses in literature, such as poems inspired by paintings or sculptures.