noun / verb

pastiche

pas-TEESH/pæˈstiːʃ/

Imitation or combination of existing styles in a creative work.

The finished painting is a pastiche combining swirling brushwork and angular geometry.

$One large, finished painting visibly borrows two contrasting artistic styles from two smaller reference paintings: swirling, thick-looking brushwork and angular, fractured geometry.$

Etymology

pasticheItalianmedley; pastry cake

Pasticcio meant both a pastry cake and a medley. The artistic meaning develops the medley sense: fragments or styles from other works are brought together in a new composition.

In context

Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society15:31

pastiche which is really the the borrowing uh of um and mixing of different styles from history and an integration of art with popular culture.

William Fisher, Copyright Spring 2013: Event 4 - Appropriation Art

More examples

The novel is a loving pastiche of Victorian ghost stories.
The director pastiches the lighting and dialogue of classic detective movies.
The students compose musical pastiches using familiar melodies.

Forms

pastiche · pastiches · pastiched · pastiching

Similar words

imitation: Broader copying, not necessarily artistic or combining several styles.
collage: Assembles actual fragments rather than necessarily imitating their styles.
parody: Imitates a style specifically for humorous or critical effect.