A Brief History of Ekphrasis

by Caitlin Cacciatore

First Recorded Example of Ekphrastic Poetry

The first written example of ekphrasis that survives to the present day takes place in Book XVIII of Homer’s Iliad. Within the larger scope of the epic poem, the forging of Achilles’ Shield is rendered in vivid detail over the course of several hundred lines. This work of mythological import is also lauded for its artistic and aesthetic beauty.

Etymology of the Word

Merriam-Webster notes that the word ‘ekphrasis’ first entered the English language in 1715, alongside words whose first recorded use fell in the same year – such as ‘archway,’ ‘glamour,’ ‘impersonate,’ and ‘physics,’ among others.

Ekphrasis is “borrowed from New Latin ecphrasis, borrowed from Greek ékphrasis "description," from ekphrad-, stem of ekphrázein "to tell over, recount, describe" (from ek- + phrázein "to point out, show, tell, explain," of uncertain origin) + -sis)” (Merriam Webster) The etymology of this word and its journey from the original Greek to the New Latin to the English language is important in understanding its history, origins, and evolution. Ekphrasis originally referred to a quite different form of literature than what we would recognize as ekphrasis today.

Evolution of the Word

The art of ekphrasis – or that of describing a work of art as vividly and in as much detail as possible – has evolved in the past few millennia. During much of history, it languished as an art form, but rose once more to prominence “in the second half of the 18th century,” in response to a demand for vivid descriptions of artworks around the world. This practice increased in popularity after the Industrial Revolution when the number of literate individuals rose because of more robust schooling offered to the working classes.

Ekphrasis helped the world become a little ‘smaller’ for a few short moments. People who were able to read and had the means to purchase newspapers, pamphlets, books, and other pieces of literature wanted to be able to see the great works of countries, cities, and entire continents they would likely never visit. It was much more expensive to reproduce a work of art on paper – especially in as faithful detail as was expected – so people relied on ekphrastic writers to paint a vivid picture in the collective mind's eye of their audience. Often, such examples of ekphrasis were reported in language that remained true to the original source material.

Ekphrasis has since expanded to include poetical works that interpret, interact with, and engage in conversation with various works of art. This form of ekphrasis is less a form of reportage and more a poetic device that is used to enter into a dialogue with an important aspect of the work of art.

In much of the world, there is no longer a need or a demand for the ekphrasis of the 18th century – gone are vivid descriptions that faithfully render an artwork on the page, replaced by metaphors that call into question some aspect of the work that is troubling, or call to attention that which is beautiful, or remark upon that which is absent. Today’s ekphrasis is an invitation to play. Now, billions of people across the world are online and can pull up high-fidelity images of the world’s great works, in full-color detail, no matter where they are located or where the work of art is in proximity to them.  

Modern Ekphrasis

What we might recognize as modern ekphrasis began in the early 19th century. John Keats wrote “Ode on a Grecian Urn” in 1819, a poem that holds a revered place in the literary canon and is perhaps amongst Keats’ more famous works. Keats’ work was impactful, despite or perhaps because of his tragically short life and the sheer raw talent he showed at such a tender age. Keats was only twenty-five when he succumbed to what was then known as ‘consumption,’ but is now referred to as tuberculosis.

Keats’ legacy extends far beyond ekphrasis, but he helped to revitalize a poetic form and reinvent the definition of ekphrasis to become something far more lasting and significant than what ekphrasis had previously limited itself to. He breathed new life into a genre that might otherwise have petered out with the advent of color photography, the Internet, and rising trends toward globalization.

Looking Towards the Future

In a way, ekphrasis has always been part of the conversation of globalization. It has endeavored to bring art to people in unique and novel ways and has succeeded in allowing art to reach more people than it otherwise would have. This synthesis of and dialogue between art and literature is essential. Indeed, the written word and language itself can be considered an artistic medium, one which we use to make meaning of the world, artifacts, art, and people around us; one that we use to reach out to one another.

Words, in this context, connect people. They form new insights about the truths that we seek. That, too, is the power of ekphrasis – to bridge the divide between the visual and language arts and to bring disparate ideas together in a cohesive whole that provokes further discussion and dialogue.  

Works Cited

Definition of EKPHRASIS. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ekphrasis

Foundation, P. (2024, February 9). John Keats: “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by Camille Guthrie (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/). Poetry Foundation; Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/145240/john-keats-ode-on-a-grecian-urn

Homer, Iliad, Book 18. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0134%3Abook%3D18

OSU School of Writing, Literature and Film (Director). (2020, September 17). “What is Ekphrasis?”: A Literary Guide for English Students and Teachers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySS-IZMPjjc

Poets, A. of A. (n.d.). Ekphrasis [Text]. Poets.Org. Retrieved January 31, 2024, from https://poets.org/glossary/ekphrasis

Poets, A. of A. (n.d.). Homer [Text]. Poets.Org. Retrieved January 31, 2024, from https://poets.org/poet/homer

“A Brief History of Ekphrasis” by Caitlin Cacciatore is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.