Isabella Flores
En plein air, French for 'outdoors', is the act of painting outside. While artists have painted in nature since the beginning of painting itself, the French impressionist painters of the mid-19th century such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley are credited with pioneering the method of painting in natural light. In the 1960s, artists began using synthetic polymer paints, or acrylics, which became the first widely used alternative to oil paints. Acrylic paints are water-based and dry quickly and uniformly, making them ideal for painting outdoors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Painting style | Plein air painting (French for 'outdoors') |
| Painting tools | Pochade box, canvas, easel, chalk, graphite, oil paint, acrylic paint |
| Notable artists | Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Claude Lorrain, Rembrandt van Rijn, Leonardo Da Vinci, Vasily Polenov, Isaac Levitan, Valentin Serov, Lancelot Ribeiro, Morris Louis |
| Period | 19th century, 20th century |
| Location | France, Italy, England, America, Russia |
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What You'll Learn
- French Impressionists like Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir advocated for painting outdoors
- The first documented outdoor painters were Italian artists Agostino Tassi and Claude Lorrain (1600-1682)
- Synthetic polymer paints, or acrylics, were the first alternative to oil paints
- Acrylic paint dries quickly and uniformly, making it ideal for outdoor conditions
- Plein-air painting allows artists to capture the changing details of weather and light
French Impressionists like Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir advocated for painting outdoors
Painting outdoors, or "en plein air", has been a practice since the beginning of painting itself. Artists have portrayed landscapes for hundreds of years, and it is believed that some of the most renowned artists in history, such as Rembrandt van Rijn and Leonardo DaVinci, practised painting outdoors. The first documented outdoor painter, however, is Italian artist Agostino Tassi, who taught Claude Lorrain—known as the "father of outdoor painting".
In the early 1860s, four young painters, Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and Frédéric Bazille, met while studying under the academic artist Charles Gleyre. They discovered a shared interest in painting landscapes and contemporary life, often venturing into the countryside together to paint in the open air. They were not creating sketches to develop into finished works in the studio, as was customary, but rather, they were completing their paintings outdoors. By painting in natural light directly from nature and using the vivid synthetic pigments that had recently been invented, they developed a lighter and brighter style of painting than the Barbizon painters. This new style of art was called Impressionism.
Monet, Sisley, and Bazille were the most dedicated proponents of the plein air technique. Monet, in particular, is seen as the most central to the tradition of painting outdoors. However, Renoir turned away from Impressionism during the 1880s and never fully returned to its ideas. While Monet, Sisley, Berthe Morisot, and Camille Pissarro are considered the "purest" Impressionists in their consistent pursuit of an art of spontaneity, sunlight, and colour, Renoir's disposition remained lighthearted, with his work often depicting leisure activities and beautiful women.
Renoir was the most versatile and prolific painter of the four, creating over 4000 works in his lifetime. He loved to paint people doing what they enjoyed, with his paintings full of individuals living their lives and enjoying each other's company. One such example is Luncheon of the Boating Parties (1881), which depicts people talking, laughing, and drinking wine. Sisley, on the other hand, was deeply committed to the ideals of the Impressionist school, often melding the human body into the natural scene in his works. Monet and Sisley's fortunes differed greatly, with Monet achieving financial success and fame by the end of his life, while Sisley died in relative poverty.
The synthetic pigments used by these French Impressionists were made possible by the recent advent of acrylic paints, which are fast-drying paints made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion and plasticizers. Acrylic paints can be thinned with water or acrylic medium and used as washes, creating effects resembling watercolours or other water-based mediums. They can also be built up into thick layers, allowing for a range of artistic expressions.
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The first documented outdoor painters were Italian artists Agostino Tassi and Claude Lorrain (1600-1682)
The act of painting outdoors or en plein air (French for 'outdoors') is believed to have been practised by artists since the beginning of painting itself. While there is no exact documentation, artists have been portraying landscapes for hundreds of years. For instance, Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) and Leonardo DaVinci (1452-1519) are thought to have painted outdoors, although this is only a theory.
The first documented outdoor painters, however, were Italian artists Agostino Tassi (1578-1644) and Claude Lorrain (1600-1682). Tassi taught Lorrain, who is known as the father of outdoor painting. Italian artist Salvatore Rosa (1615-1673) and French artist Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) also painted with Lorrain.
Agostino Tassi and Claude Lorrain's work in plein air painting set a precedent for the practice, which became increasingly popular in the 19th century. Artists would often work quickly to capture the changing light and moving clouds, completing entire oil paintings outside. When there was less time, they would create chalk or graphite drawings to be used as a reference for oil paintings that would be finished later in the studio.
The invention of portable canvases and easels, such as the "box easel" or "French box easel", made it easier for artists to paint outdoors. This development, along with the emergence of artists' colonies across France, contributed to the growing popularity of en plein air painting.
In the second half of the 19th century, French Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir advocated for and practised plein air painting. They embraced the use of vivid synthetic pigments to develop a lighter and brighter style of painting. By the later decades of the 19th century, the theory and practice of en plein air painting had been widely accepted and absorbed into normal artistic practice.
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Synthetic polymer paints, or acrylics, were the first alternative to oil paints
Painting outdoors, or en plein air, has been a popular practice since the beginning of painting. Artists such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Claude Lorrain are known for their outdoor paintings. In the 19th century, the Barbizon School of painting in natural light was highly influential. The act of painting outdoors allowed painters to capture the changing details of weather and light, and the colours and mood of a scene.
In the 1960s, artists began to use synthetic polymer paints, or acrylics, which were the first widely used alternative to oil paints. Oil paints had dominated painting since the Renaissance, but artists began to embrace the new synthetic paints due to their unique properties and quick drying times. Acrylic paints are made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion and plasticizers, silicone oils, defoamers, stabilizers, or metal soaps. Most acrylic paints are water-based, but become water-resistant when dry. They can be applied in thin layers to create effects that resemble watercolours, or built up into thick layers of paint.
The fast-drying nature of acrylic paint allows artists to work quickly, which is particularly useful when painting outdoors in changing light and weather conditions. Acrylic paint may harden and dry quickly in warm, sunny weather, so artists must work efficiently when painting en plein air. Exterior acrylics are paints that are designed to withstand outdoor conditions, making them suitable for architectural murals, outdoor signs, and faux-finishing techniques.
Some artists, such as Lancelot Ribeiro, favoured acrylic paints due to the time it took for oil paints to dry, and the "lack of brilliance in its colour potential". Acrylic paints offered a wider range of intense hues, including fluorescent and metallic pigments. Artists such as Morris Louis explored the physical properties of acrylic paints, such as their ability to stain and be poured directly onto raw canvas.
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Acrylic paint dries quickly and uniformly, making it ideal for outdoor conditions
Painting outdoors or en plein air (French for 'outdoors') has been practised since the beginning of painting itself. Artists such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and many others are known for their outdoor paintings. In the 1960s, artists began to use synthetic polymer paints or acrylic paints, which became the first widely used alternative to oil paints. Acrylic paint dries quickly and uniformly, making it ideal for outdoor conditions.
Acrylic paint is made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion and plasticizers, silicone oils, defoamers, stabilizers, or metal soaps. Most acrylic paints are water-based, but they become water-resistant when dry. Acrylic paint dries quickly and uniformly due to its water-based composition. When exposed to warm, sunny weather, acrylic paint can harden and dry even faster, making it ideal for outdoor use. The fast-drying nature of acrylic paint also allows artists to create multiple layers, adding depth and texture to their paintings.
The ability of acrylic paint to dry quickly and uniformly offers several benefits for artists working outdoors. Firstly, it enables artists to work efficiently and capture the changing light and weather conditions accurately. The fast-drying property of acrylic paint prevents the paint from running or smudging, ensuring a uniform finish. Additionally, the water-resistant property of dried acrylic paint protects the artwork from potential damage caused by outdoor elements, such as moisture or precipitation.
Acrylic paint's adaptability to various surfaces is another advantage for outdoor painting. Acrylics can be applied to a wide range of materials, including canvas, wood, glass, and walls. This versatility allows artists to choose the most suitable surface for their outdoor painting needs. Acrylic paint can also be thinned with water or used in thicker layers, providing artists with the flexibility to create a variety of effects and textures in their outdoor paintings.
The quick-drying and uniform properties of acrylic paint also contribute to its durability, making it a suitable choice for outdoor murals, signs, and faux-finishing techniques. Exterior acrylics, a type of acrylic paint designed for outdoor use, are highly resistant to water and ultraviolet light. This resistance to the elements ensures that outdoor artwork retains its colour and integrity over time, despite exposure to sunlight, rain, or other environmental factors.
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Plein-air painting allows artists to capture the changing details of weather and light
Plein-air painting, also known as "en plein air" (French for "outdoors"), is the act of painting outside, as opposed to in a studio. This method allows artists to capture the changing details of weather and light, as well as the essence of a scene, including its colours and mood.
The theory of 'en plein air' painting is attributed to Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes (1750–1819), who first introduced the concept of landscape portraiture in his 1800 treatise, "Reflections and Advice to a Student on Painting, Particularly on Landscape". Valenciennes proposed that artists should paint directly onto canvas in situ within the landscape, rather than following predetermined studio painting or academic rules. This approach was further developed in the early 1830s by the Barbizon School of painting, which focused on capturing natural light in their works.
In the mid-19th century, the invention of the "box easel", or "French box easel", made it even easier for artists to paint outdoors. This highly portable easel, with its telescopic legs and built-in paint box and palette, enabled painters to venture into forests and up hillsides.
The practice of plein-air painting was popularised by French Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley, who often worked under the diffuse light of a large white umbrella. These artists embraced the use of vivid synthetic pigments, which had recently been invented, to create a lighter and brighter style of painting. By working outdoors, they were able to capture the nuances of light and colour in a way that could not be replicated in a studio setting.
Plein-air painting allows artists to work directly from nature, responding to the changing conditions of the outdoors. While painting outdoors presents challenges, such as dealing with weather conditions and the quick-drying nature of certain paints, it offers a unique opportunity to capture the transient beauty of light and atmosphere.
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Frequently asked questions
En plein air is a French term that means 'outdoors'. It refers to the act of painting outside, which is believed to have been practised by artists since the beginning of painting itself.
Artists who paint en plein air are often those who want to capture the changing details of weather and light, as well as the natural light, shade, and colour of their surroundings. Notable artists who practised this method include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Vasily Polenov.
Acrylic paint is a common choice for painting outdoors due to its fast-drying capabilities and water-resistant properties when dry. Exterior acrylics are also more resistant to ultraviolet light, making them ideal for outdoor conditions.
In addition to the challenge of painting outdoors in varying weather conditions, artists must also consider the type of paint used. Acrylic paint, for example, may harden and dry quickly in warm, sunny weather and cannot be reused.
