plein air

¹ American  

[pleyn air, ple ner] / ˈpleɪn ˈɛər, plɛ ˈnɛr /

noun

1. the open air, especially the daylight of outdoors.

2. Fine Arts. the quality of light and atmosphere out of doors, especially this quality as rendered in painting.

---

plein-air ² American  

[pleyn-air, ple-ner] / ˌpleɪnˈɛər, plɛˈnɛr /

adjective

1. pertaining to a manner or style of painting developed chiefly in France in the mid-19th century, characterized by the representation of the luminous effects of natural light and atmosphere as contrasted with the artificial light and absence of the sense of air or atmosphere associated with paintings produced in the studio.

2. designating a painting executed out of doors and representing a direct response to the scene or subject in front of the artist.

3. (of a painting) having the qualities of air and natural light.

---

plein-air British  

/ ˌpleɪnˈɛərɪst, plɛnɛr, ˌpleɪnˈɛə /

adjective

1. of or in the manner of various French 19th-century schools of painting, esp impressionism, concerned with the observation of light and atmosphere effects outdoors

---

Other Word Forms

• plein-airism noun
• plein-airist noun

Etymology

Origin of plein air¹

1890–95; < French: literally, full air

Origin of plein-air¹

First recorded in 1890–95; adj. use of plein air

Example Sentences

Beowulf had knitted a carrying case with a strap, perfect for those times when one gets the urge to paint en plein air and needs to carry one’s portable easel, paints, and brushes outdoors.

From Literature

He had planned to paint at a plein air easel but realised it was a "bit difficult when you are stood there in the winter", and turned to his iPad to fulfil the project, Sotheby's said.

From BBC

The result was 37 paintings begun from the motif en plein air, some worked on later in the studio at Giverny.

From The Wall Street Journal

The ’30s en plein air tradition of shooting on location was later taken up by the new wave directors of the ’50s and ’60s, who took the camera out of the studios and into the streets.

From Salon

He began painting en plein air — outside — when he was a child and one of his art teachers took him and other students out of class to paint.

From Los Angeles Times