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plein air

1

[pleyn air, ple ner]

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

[pleyn-air, ple-ner]

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

/ 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

“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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Other Word Forms

  • plein-airism noun
  • plein-airist noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of plein air1

1890–95; < French: literally, full air

Origin of plein air2

First recorded in 1890–95; adj. use of plein air
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Word History and Origins

Origin of plein air1

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

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

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.

Read more on 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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And of course, there is Claude Monet, called the “Father of Impressionism” by some, with his light-filled “plein air” paintings, their short, energetic brushstrokes and pale blue-hued palette.

Read more on New York Times

“Music is art, dance is art, food is art,” she says, adding that she plans to feature comedy shows, dance and live music on future art hikes as well as plein air painting classes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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