figürlichfigürzlich

Figürlichfigürzlich is a neologism used in contemporary art theory to describe a mode of figurative representation in which recognizable figures are employed with explicit awareness of their status as figures. Works labeled as figürlichfigürzlich tend to use imagery that is simultaneously legible and self-commentary, prompting viewers to consider not only what is depicted but how depiction operates.

The term is a portmanteau that fuses elements associated with "Figur" (figure) and "figurativ" or "figur" with an adverbial or adjectival suffix to stress process and manner. It emerged in late 20th- or early 21st-century theoretical discussions on representation and image-making in German-language and European art discourse. It is not universally standardized, and its precise scope varies by author.

Core traits include metarepresentation, where figures signal their own mediation; contextual layering or displacement of figures; and a tension between recognizability and abstraction. Techniques may include juxtaposition of canonical figures with incongruous settings, repeated motifs, or montage that foreground viewer interpretation.

Usage appears across painting, sculpture, and installation, particularly within postmodern or conceptual practices. An example might be a painting that shows a classical statue in a modern urban street, with the statue casting a knowing glance at the spectator, thereby highlighting artifice and viewing conditions.

Scholars disagree about whether figürlichfigürzlich provides a precise analytic tool or risks becoming an umbrella term for any figurative work that comments on representation. Proponents argue it highlights how form and meaning depend on figural status; skeptics caution against overextension.

See also: Figurative art, Metafiction, Self-referential art, Intermediality.