Resembling or suggesting the style, manner, or characteristics of formalism; somewhat formal or stiffly stylized in quality.
From 'formalism' + Italian/French suffix '-esque' (meaning 'in the manner of'). A 20th-century creation blending aesthetic criticism with Romance language influence.
Artists and critics use 'formalesque' to describe work that's trying to be formal but doesn't quite commit—think of a painting that looks stiff and rule-bound instead of flowing naturally, like it's scared of breaking the rules!
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