A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Tableaux vivants are performances where actors dress up as characters in a painting and act out the scene depicted in the painting.

Example: Imagine a painting of a famous battle scene. In a tableaux vivants performance, actors would dress up as soldiers and reenact the battle as it is shown in the painting.

This example illustrates how tableaux vivants bring paintings to life by allowing the audience to see the scene depicted in the painting acted out in front of them.