brushstroke

noun

brush·stroke ˈbrəsh-ˌstrōk

: the configuration given to paint by contact with the bristles of a brush

also : the paint left on a surface by a single application of a brush or palette knife

—often used figuratively to describe the quality especially of a narrative or description

a story told in broad brushstrokes

Examples of brushstroke in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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The images were abstract, with brushstrokes plainly visible. —

Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025 The masterful subtlety of light brushstrokes and the troublingly realistic sfumato of the Renaissance painter in the service of god or a noblewoman elevated the work and, by extension, its maker to celebrity. —

Ruby Justice Thelot, ARTnews.com, 1 Nov. 2024 Huang’s team measured the swirls and brushstrokes in The Starry Night and used van Gogh’s color choices to estimate the sky’s movement. —

Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Sep. 2024 Each form or shadow is constructed from a brushstroke, introducing the artist’s hand into the cold machinery of camera work. —

Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for brushstroke