What is the 'opposite' of ekphrasis?

Question

Given that ekphrasis means, according to the Poetry Foundation, "an ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art", is there a term to describe the 'opposite' where a visual artist depicts a work of verbal art?

oerkelens · Accepted Answer

Since the Greek word έκφραση means expression (see here , the antonym would be impression.

However, that is not the kind of antonym you're looking for, it seems.

The trick lies in the expression ekphrastic poem, which, freely translated, would be a poem that expresses (a scene or a work of art).

You do not want a poem that does the opposite, but rather a painting that does a similar thing, which could be called an ekphrastic painting.

lassiter · Answer

While it doesn't have the same fine resonance as "ekphrasis" but I think "illustration" as in The Illustrated Shakespeare. There are innumerable fine art paintings, drawings, etchings, and so on illustrating textual passages from Shakespeare, Dante, the Bible, Greco-Roman myths and legends, and outside of fine art there are even more innumerable examples.

Answered by lassiter on April 27, 2021

Greybeard · Answer

is there a term to describe the 'opposite' where a visual artist depicts a work of verbal art?

Depiction:
OED:

Etymology: < Latin dēpictiōn-em, noun of action < dēpingĕre : see depict v1.
The action of depicting; painted representation, picture; graphic description.

1depict, v.

Etymology: < Latin dēpict-, participial stem of Latin dēpingĕre to represent by painting, portray, depict, < de- prefix 1c + pingĕre to paint: compare depaint v. and depict adj.
1.a. transitive. To draw, figure, or represent in colours; to paint; also, in wider sense, to portray, delineate, figure anyhow.

What is the 'opposite' of ekphrasis?

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