linha de sombra
1. The distinct boundary or edge between an illuminated area and a shadowed area
The shadow line created by the building fell across the street at noon.
A linha de sombra criada pelo edifício caiu sobre a rua ao meio-dia.
2. In art and illustration, the line that marks the transition from light to dark on a form
The artist carefully rendered the shadow line to give the face dimension.
O artista cuidadosamente renderizou a linha de sombra para dar dimensão ao rosto.
3. In architecture and design, the visual line created by the edge of a shadow cast by structural elements
The shadow line of the awning provided a striking geometric pattern on the façade.
A linha de sombra da marquise proporcionou um padrão geométrico marcante na fachada.
4. A metaphorical boundary between two states or conditions, often representing an unclear or ambiguous threshold
He lived in the shadow line between consciousness and sleep.
Ele vivia na linha de sombra entre a consciência e o sono.
The term 'shadow line' is prominently used in artistic and architectural communities in both Brazil and the United States. It gained additional cultural significance through Joseph Conrad's novella 'The Shadow-Line' (1917), which explores the metaphorical boundary between youth and adulthood, making the phrase also carry literary and philosophical connotations in English-speaking contexts.
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