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minimalism

minimalism

6 6.5
A style in painting, sculpture, and design using very simple shapes and few colors
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪnɪməlɪzəm/
: minimalismo
  • Since then, this tendency has reappeared in different forms, from Minimalism's "specific objects" to the painting-as-installation of the 1990s and beyond.
  • minimalism in music
  • principle of minimalism
  • moral minimalism

If the goal was minimalism, it was probably the wrong goal.

Examples

  • Interestingly, though, students may find the premises of minimalism helpful tools in their acquisition of musical knowledge.

    Academic text (1998)

  • One principle of minimalism that can greatly aid them is the extreme reduction of materials.

    Academic text (1998)

  • What do you think the term "minimalism" means?

    Academic text (2012)

  • His home was decorated in the white and chrome minimalism of the hospital.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • So this was my first exercise in "creative minimalism," something that became a pattern over the ensuing years.

    Blog text (19)

  • Elegant minimalism with romantic textures.

    Bride Wars (2009)

  • Students at various levels can learn the premises underlying minimalism and apply them to their practice and rehearsals to increase musical understanding.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Part of minimalism's popular success can be attributed to its harmonic accessibility and vital rhythms.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The artist's latest work exhibits a stunning minimalism, using only two colors and a simple shape.

  • In architecture, minimalism often translates to clean lines and open spaces without excessive decoration.

Synonyms

minimal art
vsminimalism
1 7.7

An art movement from the 1950s that uses very simple shapes and few colors in sculpture and painting

is a broader style that also covers music and design beyond visual art
reductivism
vsminimalism
  • Specialized
1 9.9

An art style in painting and sculpture that makes shapes and colors very simple

is a wider style including music and design not only visual art

Antonyms

maximalism
1 8.2

A style that uses bold colors, rich patterns, and many details

ornateness
1 7.7

A thing or style with many decorative details

How Simple

minimalism
6 6.5
simple
201 1.0
ornateness
1 7.7
maximalism
1 8.2

Surface Forms

minimalism singular
minimalisms plural

Morphology

minimalism = minimal (transparent) = minimal + ism

Formed by the productive noun-forming suffix '-ism' added to the adjective 'minimal', denoting a movement, practice, or philosophy characterized by minimal principles.

Etymology

Minimalism in art gets its name from the idea of 'very small' or 'least'. The word comes from the root mini- and minimum meaning 'smallest' and the ending -ism meaning 'style' or 'belief', so minimalism in art is a style that uses very simple shapes and few colors.