constructivism

[ kuhn-struhk-tuh-viz-uhm ]

noun

, (sometimes initial capital letter)

1. Fine Arts. a nonrepresentational style of art developed by a group of Russian artists principally in the early 20th century, characterized chiefly by a severely formal organization of mass, volume, and space, and by the employment of modern industrial materials. Compare suprematism.
2. Theater. a style of scenic design characterized by abstraction, simplification, and stylization rather than realistic imitation.

constructivism

/ kənˈstrʌktɪˌvɪzəm /

noun

1. a movement in abstract art evolved in Russia after World War I, primarily by Naum Gabo, which explored the use of movement and machine-age materials in sculpture and had considerable influence on modern art and architecture
2. philosophy the theory that mathematical entities do not exist independently of our construction of them Compare intuitionism finitism

Derived Forms

• conˈstructivist, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• con·structiv·ist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of constructivism¹

First recorded in 1920–25; constructive + -ism