or Clair-obscure, in painting, the art of distributing to advantage the lights and shades of a piece, both with respect to the easing of the eye and the effect of the whole piece. See Painting.

CLARO-Obfuro, or Chiaro-furo, is also used to signify a design consisting only of two colours, most usually black and white, but sometimes black and yellow; or it is a design washed only with one colour, the shadows being of a dusky brown, and the lights heightened up by white.

The word is also applied to prints of two colours taken off at twice; whereof there are volumes in the cabinets of those who are curious in prints.