: decoration in tones of a single color and especially gray designed to produce a three-dimensional effect
Examples of grisaille in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Only in the 1980s would Ruscha consent to pick up a spray gun, in large-scale, word-free grisailles of an elephant climbing a hill, or two ships tossed at sea.
—
Jason Farago, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2023
The 18k rose gold model, the Galaxia, has a more extensive grisaille instead of a lattice grid.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2022
An 18k rose gold version, the Galaxia, has more extensive grisaille instead of a lattice grid.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2022
In fact, to render Black skin tones, Sherald uses grisaille, a method of using gray monochromes, historically used to render or imitate sculpture.
—Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021
The technique was popular during the 1880s, and grisaille paintings were often featured in illustrated editions of the author’s works.
—Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Jan. 2020
The tonality is gray, or grisaille, because this is the underpainting, in the old-master technique, that Elizabeth learned at art school.
—Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2018
In 1921, Elizabeth Keith, a Scotswoman who was one of the very rare westerners to visit Japanese-occupied Korea, made a woodblock print of the gorge, whose rich greens and blues sharply contrast with the Korean grisailles.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2018
Sherald uses grisaille — a method of painting in gray monochrome — for her subjects’ skin.
—Dushko Petrovich, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jason Farago, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2023
The 18k rose gold model, the Galaxia, has a more extensive grisaille instead of a lattice grid.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2022
An 18k rose gold version, the Galaxia, has more extensive grisaille instead of a lattice grid.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2022
In fact, to render Black skin tones, Sherald uses grisaille, a method of using gray monochromes, historically used to render or imitate sculpture.
—Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2021
The technique was popular during the 1880s, and grisaille paintings were often featured in illustrated editions of the author’s works.
—Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Jan. 2020
The tonality is gray, or grisaille, because this is the underpainting, in the old-master technique, that Elizabeth learned at art school.
—Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2018
In 1921, Elizabeth Keith, a Scotswoman who was one of the very rare westerners to visit Japanese-occupied Korea, made a woodblock print of the gorge, whose rich greens and blues sharply contrast with the Korean grisailles.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2018
Sherald uses grisaille — a method of painting in gray monochrome — for her subjects’ skin.
—Dushko Petrovich, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Grisaille.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grisaille. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share