The French word PASTICHE was borrowed from the Italian noun pasticcio, which originally referred to a decadent meat pie or pastry filled with a mix of different ingredients. Metaphorically, French artists used it to describe an artwork that was a “medley” or “collage”—either pieced together from various elements of different works, or composed by several different creators.
A pastiche is a work of visual art, literature, music, or architecture that deliberately imitates the style, technique, or character of one or more artists. Unlike a parody, which mocks or satirizes an original piece, a pastiche is generally created to celebrate and pay tribute to the work it imitates. It mimics the distinctive features of a master’s style out of respect, flattery, or a desire to capture a specific aesthetic era.
