Sfumato (to tone down or to evaporate like smoke).
A technique in painting or drawing.
The gradual shading that produces
soft fine changes between colours and tones.
Leonardo da Vinci and his followers used it a lot.
They made variations from light to dark areas.
Artists use it for facial features
and for atmospheric effects.
![](https://team-of-art.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/725px-Mona_Lisa_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci_from_C2RMF_retouched-687x1024.jpg)
![](https://team-of-art.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Venus_and_Amor_-_Hans_Holbein_the_YoungerSfumato-771x1024.jpg)