pittoriche

Pittoriche is an Italian term used in art criticism to describe works or styles that emphasize painterly qualities—namely, the visible handling of paint, broad or expressive brushwork, and a focus on color and texture over precise linework. The word derives from pittorico, related to pittore (painter), and the feminine plural form pittoriche reflects agreement with nouns of feminine gender in Italian.

In criticism, pittoriche is a descriptive category rather than a formal movement. It contrasts with more graphic, linear, or highly finished approaches, and it can apply across various periods and styles, from late Romantic and Realist painting to modern and contemporary practices where the painterly gesture is foregrounded. The label is used to signal a certain material presence and tactility in the picture plane.

Practically, the term often refers to landscapes, portraits, or genre scenes where color fields, impasto, and dynamic brushwork contribute to the overall impression more than precise rendering. It appears in catalog entries, essays, and discussions of technique within Italian-language art criticism. Because pittoriche is a descriptive rather than a prescriptive designation, its exact interpretation can vary among scholars and contexts, and it does not correspond to a single, unified school.

See also pittorico, pittura, painterly.