About Ekphrastic Writing

This contest asks you to write a poem or piece of prose inspired by a work of art. This kind of writing is called EKPHRASTIC (ek-fras-tik) writing. 

The practice of using words inspired by a piece of visual art is an ancient one. One of the earliest examples occurs in The Iliad, when Homer provides an account of the elaborate scenes embossed on the shield of Achilles. It should be no surprise then, that the term ekphrasis derives from Greek, where it literally means "description" and was formed by combining the prefix ek- ("out") with the verb "phrazein" ("to point out or explain").  Over time, the concept of ekphrasis evolved from simple description of an artwork to any poetic expression or narrative inspired by a work of art.

"Ekphrasis" first appeared in English in the early 18th century. John Keats’ "Ode on a Grecian Urn," published in 1820, is one of the most famous examples of ekphrastic writing. More recently, poet Jan Greenbergh has talked about her belief in, “the power of art to inspire language,” and author and educator Georgia Heard called language, “the poet’s paint.” Thus, ekphrastic writing is an ancient tradition that continues to inspire writers today!