figurafundo

Figurafundo is a term used in visual studies and media analysis to denote a figure that appears in the background of a composition. The term is formed from the Portuguese words figura (figure) and fundo (background or distance). It describes a person, animal, or object placed at a distance from the viewer and not intended as the primary subject. The figurafundo serves to establish scale, setting, atmosphere, and social context, contributing to the overall meaning without drawing focus away from the foreground action.

In painting, film, and photography, figurafundo contrasts with figures in the foreground and with other background elements. It can function as environmental storytelling, indicating location, time of day, mood, or cultural setting. Practically, figurafundo is created through choices of composition, lighting, color, and depth of field; often less detailed than the foreground to maintain focus.

Terminology and reception: The term is not universally standardized and may be used variably in different languages or schools of study. Some sources prefer ‘figura de fundo’ or simply refer to a background figure or extra (figurante) when the figure is not a named character. In scholarly writing, the concept is discussed within studies of mise-en-scène, visual storytelling, and crowd depiction.

See also: Figura em primeiro plano, Figura de fundo, Profundidade de campo, Mise-en-scène, Figurante.