living picture: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Literary/Artistic
Quick answer
What does “living picture” mean?
A person or group of people posed motionless and silent, arranged to represent a scene from a story, history, or painting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or group of people posed motionless and silent, arranged to represent a scene from a story, history, or painting.
A static scene or moment of such vivid reality or emotional intensity that it resembles a frozen image; can also refer to a static yet vivid mental image or memory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term identically, though 'tableau vivant' is equally common in artistic contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Historical, artistic, often associated with Victorian-era parlour games or classical art recreations.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday language; found mainly in historical texts, art criticism, or descriptive literature.
Grammar
How to Use “living picture” in a Sentence
The actors formed a living picture of the Last Supper.She created a living picture from the famous painting.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in art history, theatre studies, and cultural history to describe a specific performance genre.
Everyday
Rarely used; might be employed metaphorically for a very still, picturesque scene (e.g., 'The garden was a living picture of autumn').
Technical
In theatre/performance: a planned, motionless pose representing a specific scene or artwork.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “living picture”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “living picture”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “living picture”
- Using it to mean a vivid video or GIF. Confusing it with a 'moving picture' (film). Misspelling as 'live picture'. Using in casual contexts where it sounds unnatural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially yes. 'Tableau vivant' is the full French term, often shortened to 'tableau' in theatre, which means 'living picture'.
No, it specifically refers to live people posing. A very vivid photograph might be described as 'picture-like' or 'resembling a painting', but not a 'living picture'.
It is primarily a historical or niche artistic term. You might encounter it in historical fiction, art history, or in experimental performance art.
A statue is an inanimate object. A 'living picture' involves living people who are temporarily motionless, often in costume and within a staged setting, to mimic a painting or scene.
A person or group of people posed motionless and silent, arranged to represent a scene from a story, history, or painting.
Living picture is usually formal/literary/artistic in register.
Living picture: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɪv.ɪŋ ˈpɪk.tʃər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɪv.ɪŋ ˈpɪk.tʃɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A living picture of despair (a person looking extremely despairing).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LIVING person standing so still they become part of a PICTURE frame.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS ART / A MOMENT IS A PICTURE
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'living picture' be LEAST appropriate?