pointillism
noun
poin·til·lism ˈpȯin-tə-ˌli-zəm 
ˈpwaⁿ(n)-tē-ˌyi-zəm
ˈpwaⁿ(n)-tē-ˌyi-zəm often capitalized
: the theory or practice in art of applying small strokes or dots of color to a surface so that from a distance they blend together
pointillist
ˈpȯin-tə-list ˌpwaⁿ(n)-tē-ˈyēst
noun ˌpwaⁿ(n)-tē-ˈyēst 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In the four corners of the ceiling, sunlight streams through windows of Russian blue glass painted by the local Aboriginal artist Sharron Ohlsen, who also employs pointillism in her work. 
New York Times, 5 Jan. 2022 Seldom is this a problem when landing at an airport, since the trees, telephone poles, and air traffic control towers create a concrete referential pointillism easily processed by the eye. Eric Lindner, Popular Mechanics, 22 July 2021 Quantum is like pointillism—a world made up of little dots. Time, 25 May 2021 His art evolved around that time, not toward despair or sadness but experiments in pointillism and swirls of color inspired by chemical reactions. Kristen Leigh Painter, Star Tribune, 13 May 2021 With his development of pointillism, Seurat painted tiny juxtaposed dots in varying colors to further disintegrate images beyond those of the impressionists. John Zotos, Dallas News, 7 May 2021 Cox’s style might be described as dynamic pointillism, with breathy instrumental noises giving way to mournfully wailing glissandi, and then to a climactic stampede of frantic figuration. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2021 Her signature sound, in which ethereal vocal pointillism details the upper limits of sensual songs driven by bouncing beats, expresses Twigs’s embrace of embodiment as well as her penchant for the abstract. Emily J. Lordi Photographs By Liz Johnson Artur, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2020 The Singer Laren's collection has a focus on modernism such as neo-impressionism, pointillism, expressionism and cubism. Bloomberg.com, 8 May 2020 See More
New York Times, 5 Jan. 2022 Seldom is this a problem when landing at an airport, since the trees, telephone poles, and air traffic control towers create a concrete referential pointillism easily processed by the eye. Eric Lindner, Popular Mechanics, 22 July 2021 Quantum is like pointillism—a world made up of little dots. Time, 25 May 2021 His art evolved around that time, not toward despair or sadness but experiments in pointillism and swirls of color inspired by chemical reactions. Kristen Leigh Painter, Star Tribune, 13 May 2021 With his development of pointillism, Seurat painted tiny juxtaposed dots in varying colors to further disintegrate images beyond those of the impressionists. John Zotos, Dallas News, 7 May 2021 Cox’s style might be described as dynamic pointillism, with breathy instrumental noises giving way to mournfully wailing glissandi, and then to a climactic stampede of frantic figuration. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2021 Her signature sound, in which ethereal vocal pointillism details the upper limits of sensual songs driven by bouncing beats, expresses Twigs’s embrace of embodiment as well as her penchant for the abstract. Emily J. Lordi Photographs By Liz Johnson Artur, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2020 The Singer Laren's collection has a focus on modernism such as neo-impressionism, pointillism, expressionism and cubism. Bloomberg.com, 8 May 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
French pointillisme, from pointiller to stipple, from point spot, from Old French — more at point
First Known Use
1897, in the meaning defined above