Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

plein-air

Adjective

/pleɪn ˈɛr/

Definition

Plein-air refers to the act of painting outdoors rather than in a studio, capturing the natural light and atmosphere of a scene.

Examples

Many artists prefer the plein-air technique to create vibrant landscapes.
Painting plein-air allows artists to capture the changing light throughout the day.
The plein-air movement gained popularity in the 19th century among impressionist painters.

Meaning

The term comes from the French language and translates to ‘open air.’ It emphasizes the experience of artists working outside to depict landscape and nature directly in their artwork.