monocromista

Monocromista is a term used in the visual arts to describe an artist who works primarily with a single color or a very limited palette, emphasizing tonal variation, texture, and light over chromatic diversity. The word is formed from mono- “one” and chroma “color,” with the agentive suffix -ista.

Characteristics of monocromista practice include the use of variations in value and saturation within a single hue, often achieved through layering, glazing, or surface treatment. Artists may employ the same pigment across large areas or explore the materiality of paint, pigment, or support to produce depth and mood without relying on multiple colors. Monochrome works can be black-and-white or use any single color extended across the composition.

Historical and contemporary context: Monochrome or monocromist approaches appeared in the modern era as artists questioned the role of color in painting and the nature of perception. Notable practitioners associated with monochrome painting include Yves Klein, Pierre Soulages, and Ad Reinhardt, among others. The approach has also appeared in various media, including drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and photography, where artists may restrict themselves to one color or tonal range to foreground form, texture, and concept.

Impact and interpretation: Monocromista works frequently invite consideration of light, materiality, and viewer perception. They are often associated with minimalist or conceptual strategies, but can also serve as a vehicle for exploring emotion, spirituality, or phenomenological questions about how color and surface interact with the observer.