Intimacy

Intimacy — a feeling of intimacy, coziness, and privacy conveyed in works of art, primarily in painting and sculpture. Most often, intimate works are small in format, and their subject is filled with details of everyday life: a quiet conversation, reading a letter, restful leisure. Feature: intimacy is contrasted with ceremonial, public compositions; the viewer seems to be peeking into the world of the characters.

An important point: even large works can retain intimacy through the depth of psychologism, soft light, and a homely setting. This principle was actively used by masters of the Dutch Golden Age, and in the 20th century, intimacy became part of the art of private collections. Sometimes the artist deliberately limited the palette, removed the background — creating a "chamber" of attention.