cienie

Cienie is plural form of the Polish noun cień and refers to the phenomenon and concept of shadows, as well as to shades or tones in color and art. In everyday language, cienie describe the dark areas created when objects block light. In a broader sense, the term also appears in literature and culture as a metaphor for presence or memory that lingers.

Physically, a shadow appears when a light source is obstructed by an opaque object. Depending on the light, shadows can be hard or soft, with clear edges or with gradual fading. Two related concepts are used to describe the structure of shadows: umbra, the full, darkest part of a shadow, and penumbra, the partially shaded outer region. Cast shadows are those projected onto a surface, while self-shadow or form shadow refers to the shading on an object itself, indicating its three‑dimensional form.

In art and visual representation, cieniowanie (shading) is a technique used to model volume and depth by varying lightness and darkness. Artists use tonal gradations, hatching or blending to create the illusion of light, shadow and texture. The term is closely related to artistic approaches such as chiaroscuro, which emphasizes strong contrasts between light and dark to give drama and volume.

In color theory and design, cienie also refer to darker versions of colors—shades that contribute to contrast, mood and composition. In modern graphics, shadows are simulated through shading models and rendering techniques to convey realism in two‑ and three‑dimensional imagery.