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.

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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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• plein-airism noun
• plein-airist noun

Etymology

Origin of plein air¹

1890–95; < French: literally, full air

Origin of plein-air²

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

Example Sentences

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 • Oct. 11, 2025

The invention of tubes of paint, as well as faster drying paint and collapsible easels, allowed artists to explore faster, more spontaneous ways of painting, often outdoors 'en plein air'.

From BBC • May 23, 2023

It was Katz, on Dodd’s first trip to Maine with King in 1951, who showed her how to paint en plein air, after which she abandoned working from drawings.

From New York Times • Mar. 31, 2023

For something more substantial, you have to leave en plein air to dine at the hotel’s new lobby restaurant Otium Grill & Greens.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 10, 2022

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 "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood