Glossary of Art Terms; Letter E

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Glossary of Art Terms

William Blake

Gustave Courbet

Edgar Degas

Ebauche

This is the underpainting or thinly painted lay in of lines, broad masses of light and shade, with the halftones of the subject, all considered to be the base of the finished painting. The academic ebauche was normally executed in earth tones from pale creams to dark browns. The Impressionists deliberately avoided the dark ebauche colors, beginning their paintings in bright hues related to the local colors of the subjects they painted.

Edge

This is a term used in decorative painting meaning to make straight lines with an edging brush and ruler, freehand or with an airbrush. It is used to render faux moldings, stone joints, and borders. Edges may be soft (blended) or hard.

Efflorescence

A whitish powder, sometimes found on the surface of masonry, caused by the deposit of soluble salts carried through onto the surface by moisture.

Encaustic

This is a technique to which molten wax mixed with pigments is applied to a surface. Many times a Resin is added to the mixture. When dry, the colors have a glossy shine. The technique was first used in the 1st and 3rd centuries but has enjoyed a revival in the 21st century.

Esquisse

French word for sketch. This is initial compostitional drawing that embody the artist's first impression or inspired idea for the final painting. In Academic painting, the esquisse is proceeded by drawn sketches. When the final painting is to be executed, the artist follows the painted esquisse by carefully painted studies from life or individual elements in the composition. The scheme is then transferred onto the final canvas and the final process of executing the finished piece begins. In 1816, competitions began for the painted equisse at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris as part of the Prix de Rome, emphasising spontaneity and originality.

Etude

French word for study. In figure painting, the esquisse was the most freely executed stage of the painting. The etude was executed relatively slow and carwfully worked under lighting conditions. In landscape painting, the etude is considered the outdoor painted sketch which is taken back to the studio and a final painting is created from the etudes made from nature.

Expressionism

This is a term used for an art movement founded in the 20th century which opposed the imitation of nature and the Impressionists. Expressionists tend to stress the emotional content with strong color and line. Vincent Van Gogh was considered the greatest expressionist.

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