retrospective

REH-truh-SPEK-tiv

meaning in plain English

A show that looks back at an artist's work from many years of their career.

Think a retrospective art show: like flipping through a photo album that walks you back through every year of an artist’s life.

for example

The museum held a big retrospective of the painter’s work, showing paintings from the 1950s all the way to the 2020s.

Remember when your high school put on a retrospective of old yearbook photos, slideshows, and cringe-worthy fashion trends from the '80s? That’s not just nostalgia—it’s a retrospective, where the past gets dusted off and paraded in front of you, making you wonder why you ever thought neon leg warmers were a good idea.