pointille

Pointille refers to a decorative technique involving the application of numerous small dots or stitches. In textiles, pointille refers to a type of embroidery or knitting where small holes are created in the fabric or yarn, often in a decorative pattern. This can be achieved by skipping stitches during knitting or by carefully removing threads in woven fabric. The resulting effect is a delicate, often airy, texture.

In other contexts, pointille can describe a style of drawing or painting that uses a multitude of small dots to create shading, form, and texture. This technique, also known as stippling in drawing and pointillism in painting, relies on the viewer's eye to blend the dots from a distance. Artists employ varying sizes and densities of dots to achieve different tonal values and visual effects. The term originates from the French word "pointille," meaning "small point" or "dot." This method allows for subtle gradations and can create a sense of luminescence in artwork.