Grotesque

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Grotesque
/ɡrə(ʊ)ˈtɛsk/ (adj.)

"Grotesque" comes from the Italian pittura grottesca being a painting found in a “grotto” — which Google ventures probably denoted the rooms of ancient buildings in Rome revealed by excavations to contain murals in the grotesque style.

But isn’t that circular?

So let’s make up a better story. Now grotto is Italian for “cave”. How about this: a “grotesque” picture had the quality of a shadow thrown by flickering candlelight against the craggy wall of a Platonic cave?

So grotesque means human, earthly, imperfect, not of the forms?