en plein air

Originating from French, "en plein air" describes the practice of painting outdoors, capturing natural light and scenery.

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Definition

(technical, artistic)The act of creating artwork outside, directly observing the environment.

Many impressionist painters preferred to work en plein air to capture the natural light.
She set up her easel en plein air to paint the landscape before her.

(technical, artistic)A technique characterized by painting outdoors, focusing on natural light and atmosphere.

En plein air painting often features loose brushwork and vibrant colors.
The artist's en plein air technique gave the painting a sense of immediacy and freshness.

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "en plein air":