tonalism

[TOH-nuh-liz-uhm]
nounpl: tonalisms
tonalismo
1. An American art movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries characterized by the use of a limited, subtle palette of colors and atmospheric effects to convey mood and emotion
Tonalism emerged as a reaction against the bright colors of Impressionism, favoring muted tones and poetic atmospheres.
O tonalismo emergiu como uma reação contra as cores brilhantes do Impressionismo, favorecendo tons suaves e atmosferas poéticas.
2. In music, the adherence to or emphasis on tonality and the tonal system as opposed to atonality
The composer's return to tonalism marked a shift away from experimental modernism.
O retorno do compositor ao tonalismo marcou um desvio do modernismo experimental.
Tonalism is particularly significant in American art history, with major tonalist painters like James McNeill Whistler and tonalist landscapes gaining prominence in the Northeast and San Francisco Bay Area during the late 1800s. The movement reflected a desire for subtlety and mood over objective representation, influencing American art education and museum collections. In Brazil and Portugal, the term is primarily used in art historical scholarship to describe this specific American artistic movement.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
tonal paintingtonalist artatmospheric realism
Antonyms / Antônimos
atonalismimpressionismexpressionism

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
tonalismo
Standard term used in art history and music theory contexts
Portugal
tonalismo
Used similarly to Brazilian Portuguese in academic and artistic contexts
USA
tonalism
Primarily associated with American art history of the 19th-20th centuries

Related Words

tonalisttonalitytonalimpressionismluminismromanticism

Related Idioms & Phrases

atmospheric tonalism
tonalist movement
return to tonalism
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