grisaille

American  

[gri-zahy, -zeyl, gree-zah-y^uh] / grɪˈzaɪ, -ˈzeɪl, griˈzɑ yə /

noun

plural

grisailles

1. monochromatic painting in shades of gray.

2. a work of art, as a painting or stained-glass window, executed in grisaille.

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grisaille British  

/ ɡrizɑj, ɡrɪˈzeɪl /

noun

1. a technique of monochrome painting in shades of grey, as in an oil painting or a wall decoration, imitating the effect of relief

2. a painting, stained glass window, etc, in this manner

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Etymology

Origin of grisaille

1840–50; < French: painted in gray monotone, equivalent to gris gray + -aille noun suffix

Example Sentences

MFA’s example from that summer, “Three Boys on a Beached Dory,” is a charming grisaille work depicting the children, wearing broad-brimmed hats, looking at sailboats on the horizon.

From The Wall Street Journal

A planned exhibition of his grisaille paintings at the Whitney Museum of American Art had to be canceled.

From New York Times

Bellow, however, could still stop for a sauvignon blanc and a plate of charcuterie when the “Parisian grisaille” — that depthless monochrome that can envelop even the Eiffel Tower — gave him the January blues.

From New York Times

This much was evident in the largely grisaille efforts in her 2016 show at Marian Goodman, where a new softness of line prevailed.

From New York Times

She painted images clipped from magazines in slightly fogged-in grisaille, as if suffused with tragedy.

From New York Times