obraznost

Obraznost, in the context of literary aesthetics, denotes the quality of imagery in language—the capacity to evoke vivid sensory pictures through figurative language, descriptive detail, and symbolic associations. The term derives from the Russian образ (image, form) with the suffix -ность and is commonly translated as imagery or figurative language.

Obraznost encompasses devices such as metaphor, simile, personification, epithets, and rich descriptive passages, as well as symbolic and multisensory details that engage sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. It functions to convey mood, character, setting, and thematic meaning by shaping perception and inviting interpretation, often producing a cumulative aesthetic effect beyond literal description.

In Russian literary theory, obraznost has been a central topic since the 19th century and remains a key criterion in evaluating prose and poetry. Critics analyze how imagery contributes to atmosphere, psychological depth, and ethical or existential implications. The concept is related to, yet distinct from, broader notions of metaphor and symbol; some approaches treat obraznost as the domain of sensory and imaginative language rather than logical argument.

The use of obraznost is evident across periods and authors, from Pushkin’s vivid nature scenes to the dense symbolic imagery in Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, and in the descriptive lyricism of later poets. It remains a fundamental concept for describing how language creates mental images and a felt cinematic or tactile experience for the reader.