Ekphrasis: putting pictures into words....

"A picture is worth a thousand words."       "Art for art's sake."       "In so many words...."

These phrases represent some of the ideas behind ekphrasis. Ekphrasis is typically defined as poetic treatment of the visual arts. Romantic poetry is most often given as example of ekphrasis. However, it has turned up in all periods of history -- from antiquity to today's postmodern society. Together (though not necessarily in complete tandem), art and writing have been at once harbingers and heralders of progressive thought. Ekphrasis, then, can be considered as a natural link between the two. But what is it, really?

Last updated: 7 July 2000