impasto
Americannoun
-
the laying on of paint thickly.
-
the paint so laid on.
-
enamel or slip applied to a ceramic object to form a decoration in low relief.
noun
-
paint applied thickly, so that brush and palette knife marks are evident
-
the technique of applying paint in this way
Etymology
Origin of impasto
1775–85; < Italian, noun derivative of impastare to impaste
Vocabulary lists containing impasto
National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Visual Arts - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Art History
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Was it possible that van Gogh had deliberately added handfuls of sand and pebbles to his paint to thicken his impasto and give it a grittier texture?
From New York Times • May 11, 2023
But the artist’s representational pictures retained elements of his abstractions, including their loose brushwork, thick impasto and a palette heavy on pink, red and black.
From Washington Post • Apr. 18, 2023
It has David’s paintings, stained glass, the magnificent organ and an impasto of ceremonies and coronations that should, God and the restoration willing, run for ever.
From The Guardian • Apr. 16, 2019
Mr. Clark sometimes stains but mostly he wields wide brushes and even brooms, magnifying impasto and brushwork in piled-up strokes that seem to squirm on the surface.
From New York Times • Sep. 27, 2018
Vincent finds oils easier to paint with than watercolors, and loves to lay the paint on thickly, a technique called impasto.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
