impasto
noun
, -ˈpä-\
Definition of impasto
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from impasto
, -ˈpä- \
adjective
Examples of impasto in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kokoschka/Pro In Dresden, where Kokoschka settled after World War I, the artist’s palette brightens and his impasto technique, hitherto mostly confined to faces, hands and clothing, floods his canvases, often extending to their very corners. — A.j. Goldmann, WSJ, "‘Oskar Kokoschka—Expressionist, Migrant, European. A Retrospective’ Review: Longevity as Blessing and Curse," 2 Jan. 2019 What Hicks’s images convey is the impasto layering of changing generational taste that makes this house, like so many other storied British homes, a place of such endless delight and discovery. — Noor Brara, Vogue, "Inside Buckingham Palace’s Resplendent, Never-Before Seen Rooms," 4 Oct. 2018 Each artist’s work employs the impasto technique, in which paint straight from the tube, by paint stick, or by finger is applied, slathered, or encrusted in a technique that makes the application process part of the art. — Nancy Shohet West, BostonGlobe.com, "For the birds: Music and poetry honor avian life," 23 Mar. 2018 In each frame, the team of artists mimicked the thick layers of oil paint that Vincent mixed on his canvases with his palette knife and hands through a technique called impasto. — Jackie Mansky, Smithsonian, "How the Creators of Loving Vincent Brought the First Fully Painted Animated Film to Life," 20 Feb. 2018 Beyond explanation is the art itself. Animating Van Gogh’s bold impasto, already kinetic on the canvas, could have been merely superfluous. — Sheri Linden, latimes.com, "Mystery of Van Gogh explored in visually distinctive, hand-painted animation in 'Loving Vincent'," 28 Sep. 2017 Her color palette and impasto technique make for deep texture, in some cases with paint an inch thick coming off the canvas. — NOLA.com, "4 cool new shops and galleries to discover around New Orleans," 8 July 2017 The famously grotesque impasto of Jane’s makeup (Davis’s own invention) matches her roaring theatrical flamboyance; Blanche, plainspoken and sculpturally stark, is reduced to muddled deceptions in order to elude Jane’s clutches. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?," 10 May 2017 Some of his creations have the depth of relief sculptures while others look like plasticy impasto paintings. — Joseph Flaherty, WIRED, "3-D Printed Paintings Make Jackson Pollock Look Plain," 10 Oct. 2013These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impasto.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about impasto
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
A Lesson in Fine Art
A Lesson in Fine Art
11 words to know for the museum
Dictionary Entries near impasto
Statistics for impasto
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for impasto
The first known use of impasto was in 1784
Comments on impasto
What made you want to look up impasto? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Original Meanings Quiz
-
- Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Original Meanings Quiz
A quiz for the pedantic and those annoyed by them!
Take the quiz -
A Green Quiz
How many questions can you answer about the word "green"?
Take the quiz -
Name That Thing
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
Take the quiz -
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!
Play the game
Share impasto
Resources for impasto