maalauksellisten

Maalauksellisten is the genitive plural form of the Finnish adjective maalauksellinen, meaning painterly or picturesque. It is used to describe works, scenes, or styles that possess qualities reminiscent of painting, such as expressive brushwork, strong color contrasts, and a composition that evokes a canvas. The form appears when the adjective modifies a plural noun in the genitive case, for example maalauksellisten teosten or maalauksellisten maisemien, meaning “of the painterly works” or “of the painterly landscapes.”

Etymology and morphology: maalauksellinen is formed from maalaus (painting) and the suffix -llinen, which creates adjectives meaning “characterized by” or “having the quality of.” The genitive plural ending -isten marks a plurality of such items in possession or relation.

Usage: The term is common in Finnish art criticism and literary description, typically describing visual effects, brushwork, or scenes that suggest painting rather than photography or direct reality. The corresponding adverb is maalauksellisesti, meaning “in a painterly manner.” The noun form maalauksellisuus refers to the quality of being painterly.

Notes: Maalauksellisten is used only when a plural noun is in the genitive; for other cases or numbers the form changes (for example maalauksellisia in the partitive or nominative forms). While stylistically somewhat literary, the term is widely understood in academic and cultural discourse as a descriptor of aesthetic approach or appearance.