luonnonomaiset

Luonnonomaiset is a Finnish term used in art criticism and design to describe works and forms that aim to resemble nature in appearance, structure, or materials. The word combines luonto, nature, with a suffix indicating likeness, and it is used to label styles that emphasize natural detail and organic forms rather than abstract or geometric simplification.

The term appears in Finnish-language sources from the 20th century onward, particularly in discussions of painting, sculpture, architecture, and applied arts where natural motifs or materials are prominent. In practice, luonnonomaiset works may stress realistic depiction of textures and light, or employ biomorphic shapes and natural materials such as wood and stone to evoke a sense of nature.

In critical use, luonnonomaiset can function as a descriptive category or as a contrast to more formalist, abstract, or conceptual tendencies. In contemporary discourse, elements described as luonnonomaiset are sometimes linked to broader movements around tactility, environmental awareness, and harmony with the surrounding landscape, though the exact interpretation depends on context and author.

See also: Naturalism, Realism, Biomorphism.