plein air

[ pleyn-air; French ple ner ]

noun

the open air, especially the daylight of outdoors.
Fine Arts. the quality of light and atmosphere out of doors, especially this quality as rendered in painting.

Origin of plein air

1890–95; <French: literally, full air

Words Nearby plein air

Other definitions for plein-air (2 of 2)

plein-air

[ pleyn-air; French ple-ner ]

adjective

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

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

Origin of plein-air

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

Other words from plein-air

plein-airism, noun
plein-airist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use plein air in a sentence

I propose that we institute a pilgrimage, sighed Rodin, to all monuments de plein air yet spared by restoration.
How France Built Her Cathedrals | Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
But in the orchestra of Strauss, the color-gamut of the plein-air painters got a musical equivalent.
Musical Portraits | Paul Rosenfeld
All the members of the club were young—of the new rebellious school of 'plein air'—the afternoon promised to be amusing.
The History of David Grieve | Mrs. Humphry Ward
But she was determined to make it substantially a picture en plein air.
The History of David Grieve | Mrs. Humphry Ward
Of course, plein-air painting was at first the chief object of their endeavours.
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 3 (of 4) | Richard Muther

British Dictionary definitions for plein-air

plein-air

/ (ˌpleɪnˈɛə, French plɛnɛr) /

adjective

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

Origin of plein-air

C19: from French phrase en plein air in the open (literally: full) air

Derived forms of plein-air

plein-airist (ˌpleɪnˈɛərɪst), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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