Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Plein-air refers to painting outdoors, directly from nature. Artists would set up their easels outside to capture the changing light, colors, and atmosphere of their surroundings.
Related terms
En plein air: This French term means 'in open air' and is often used interchangeably with plein-air.
Barbizon School: The Barbizon School was an art movement that preceded Impressionism but shared similar interests in capturing natural landscapes en plein air.
Landscape painting: Landscape painting focuses on depicting natural scenery such as mountains, rivers, forests, or fields.