Ive been obsessed with this style since I was a kid, but I absolutely cannot nail it down in a word or phrase. It's something so specific in my mind and I've seen it often in paintings and landscaping but never with a specific description or singular word. I imagine a single word probably doesnt exist for it but here's hoping lol..
I can kind of sum it up with a few features. First of all, it kind of has a low-poly "PS1 graphics" quality to it. SUPER minimal shapes and design. I always think of the first Spyro game as my introduction to it.
The italian landscape aspect is the next feature. Poplar trees, groomed topiary, rolling manicured hills, symmetry and minimalist shapes.
Next is the abstract and "unnatural" element. Spirals, unnatural scale of certain shapes and objects, unnatural repetition of certain features, un-organic minimalism. Harsh contrast between darks and lights, deep shadows, immaculate textures. The "liminal space" is a major aspect of this style.
Artist-wise I can only think of Eyvind Earle, Grant Wood, Charles Jencks...
Here's a few images I could find that are similar. Sorry for the AI, unfortunately AI is REALLY good at capturing the exact look I'm trying to name. The bottom image of the white figure in the dark hedges encapsulates it really well. I'll try and find some real-life examples too.
"Minimalist" is too obvious, as would be "flat shaded", but I can't think of anything else..
