Friday, April 7, 2023

'Plein-Air Painting' vs. 'Outdoor Sketching'

According to Google NGram Viewer, the term "plein-air painting" has increased in its frequency in print, but the activity was much more commonly known as "outdoor sketching" a century ago. 

The term peaks around 1930.
 

2 comments:

Richard said...

Do you think this was because of the access to the car, or because of the wars? or something else?

Robert Michael Walsh said...

in current usage these seem to me to be overlapping terms but with nuanced distinctions. I think of "outdoor sketching" as personal sketchbook entries for my own recollection or occasional scans to friends or travel companions. I think of "plein air" paintings as more finished paintings completed on-site for sale, gallery, or sale.