Kujutis

Küjutis is an Estonian noun meaning image, depiction, or representation. It covers both visual records, such as paintings, drawings, and photographs, and mental images or impressions formed in the mind. The term is used in everyday language as well as in art, publishing, and media to denote a representation of something, whether concrete or conceptual.

In art and publishing, a küjutis is an illustration that accompanies a text or a standalone graphic that conveys information, mood, or style. In museums, catalogs, and media, the word is commonly employed to refer to images that document, interpret, or enhance a subject. The concept also appears in broader discussions of visual culture, where küjutis helps distinguish pictured content from accompanying text.

Etymology: the noun küjutis is derived from the verb kujutada, meaning to depict or portray, with the nominal suffix -is. It is related to other Estonian terms connected with imagery and representation, such as pilt (image) and kujundus (design), though exact usage can vary by context.

Notes: in everyday use, küjutis can refer to any image or illustration encountered in books, articles, advertisements, or online media, as well as to mental representations invoked by language and thought. The term emphasizes the representational aspect of an image, rather than merely its physical form.