CultureAugust 17, 2026

motifs

moh-TEEFS

Definition

Recurring thematic, visual, or structural elements within an artistic work.

Etymology

Derived from the French word motif, meaning 'motive' or 'subject', it traces back to the Medieval Latin 'motivus', meaning 'moving'. In art and literature, it refers to a distinctive feature or dominant idea in a composition.

In the news

In this article, the term refers to the repeating spiritual symbols and patterns found throughout Minnie Evans's drawings and paintings. These motifs are central to understanding the consistent themes and imagery of her work.

Minnie Evans at the Whitney Museum of American Art

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