plein air

English

Alternative forms

• plein-air

Etymology

Borrowed from French plein air.

Adjective

plein air (not comparable)

1. (painting) done outdoors
   • 2021, Ed Tarkington, The Fortunate Ones, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, page 87:

     The next day, I began sketching out a new painting. I didn't need a photograph or a plein air study; the image was with me all the time, floating at the edge of my consciousness.

Derived terms

• en plein air