Grisail technique is a type of painting. Grisaille in painting: description and features

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Fans of painting and drawing lessons are probably familiar with the concept of grisaille. This is one of the most famous techniques, allowing artists to capture sculptural and architectural elements in as much detail as possible. We will tell you more about this art form later.

General information about the concept

Grisaille is a kind of painting that is traditionally done using one color with its tonal variations. Initially, this technique was conceived as a tool that allows you to display relief figures in detail. Later, it began to be used as a visual image of modern decor in the interior. In particular, it was indispensable for designers, as it helped to make the proposed layouts voluminous and realistic. Even later, the grisaille technique began to be used in the design of premises. For example, paintings depicting various decor items created using this style have become an integral part of any interior.

What is the technique like?

Using this technique, the artists tried to transfer three-dimensional images onto paper as accurately as possible. Therefore, the pictures turned out to be very realistic. According to experts, all the details were so clearly transmitted that it was almost impossible to distinguish them from real sculptures and relief figures. If we compare such paintings with modern trends in painting, then they clearly have a lot in common with drawings in the 3D style.

Where was it used before?

After some time, the grisaille technique began to be used in the so-called easel painting. But here, too, this type of art was forced to play only a secondary role. In most cases, it was used as an auxiliary tool. For example, it was used to create various sketches, layouts, and even scale buildings and structures.

And only many years later it was decided to separate grisaille from easel painting, transfer it to a separate group of fine arts. During the glorious Baroque era, grisaille (drawing technique) played an important role in the creation of various architectural bas-reliefs. For example, some elements of this unusual technique ended up on the ceilings and walls of the Hermitage. There are also on the wall of the Jordan stairs. Actual elements of the grisaille technique were used in the manufacture of human sculptures under the arches, while creating the effect of a carved wall and an atrium.

Examples of technique in painting

One of the striking examples of paintings created using this technique is the painting "The Sermon of John the Baptist", once writtenRembrandt. It is now in the Berlin State Museum. Grisaille was used in painting by the famous Spanish artist and sculptor Pablo Picasso. For example, he used this technique in his Guernica.

Recall that this picture was created by the author on the personal order of the authorities of the Spanish Republic. It was first presented at the Paris World's Fair. The canvas is made in black and white using elements of cubism. It captures one of the saddest events that occurred during the Spanish Civil War - the bombing of the city.

Famous color variations

As a rule, grisaille is just one or two colors, most often a white-brown or black-and-white shade. Even earlier, as a variant of the palette of this type of art, the so-called sepia was used. It was a special dye that could be obtained by using the ink bag of the sea cuttlefish.

Sepia interested artists mainly until the 18th century. Over time, reddish tones began to predominate in the palette. Modern masters use any color and shade that can convey the original author's idea of the artist. For example, it can be work using lilac, gray or brown. In addition, during the application of the grisaille technique, it is allowed to use special artistic white.

Why is it so important to master this technique?

Because grisaille ispainting, based on the transfer of tone with the help of shadow, light and color, it is recommended to thoroughly study it for novice artists. As experienced painters say, it is not difficult to determine the palette of objects. But clearly seeing how much one object is lighter or darker than another is a real art.

In addition, the use of this amazing technique makes it possible to build the correct tonal scale. Moreover, this is done using a special tonal scale, consisting of approximately 5, 7 or 9 semitones. All this can be mastered by learning how to draw in the grisaille style. And only after studying this technique is it worth moving on to the use of multi-color watercolors.

Drawing (grisaille): varieties

This type of technique can be conditionally divided into two varieties: artistic and educational. In particular, the first allows you to create incredible three-dimensional paintings using multi-colored paints. But the second option is performed either with a bold pencil or charcoal. By the way, the educational technique is used to create basic sketches, on which various color shades are applied over time.

It is believed that with the help of grisaille it is possible to break a conditional form (on paper) into several types of surfaces at once. This can be a side, top, crop and front image. At the same time, some masters during the training sessions for novice artists prefer to make grisaille in watercolor (one-color). Others, in addition to it, try to use acrylic, oil or tempera. Alsorecommended to use ink, liquid ink or sepia.

The ideal option in this case would be the use of three tones of colors, which are selected according to their color intensity or saturation. Moreover, the first of them, as a rule, is used for the symbolic designation of shadows emanating from objects, the next one is used to illuminate halftones, and the last one is used to display bright highlights and light areas of the depicted objects.

How does learning begin?

Teaching the grisaille technique should start with traditional and simple still life productions. It is noteworthy that when compiling them, it is best to use the most common models and objects. For example, it can be fruit plates, flower vases or any objects from household utensils. And only then can you move on to more complex elements, such as human figures.

How does it work?

Drawing in the style of grisaille is performed according to the following scheme:

1. Sketching in pencil.
2. A light layer of paint is applied - just a few strokes, excluding bright areas of objects.
3. The work is drying.
4. As it dries, the student must find shadows in the drawing. He paints them a shade darker.
5. After drying, places with semitones are indicated.
6. In the final stage, the most illuminated places and highlights are highlighted in a light tone.

It is believed that after several such sessions, students develop a sense of consistency in their work. In a word, grisaille is considered the first stepon the grandest ladder of modern painting.