Art Term

Painterly

Painterly refers to the application of paint in a 'loose' or less than controlled manner, resulting in the appearance of visible brushstrokes within the finished painting

John Singer Sargent
Claude Monet Painting by the Edge of a Wood (?1885)
Tate

The term painterly can apply both to the approach or the technique of the artist, as well as the look of the finished work.

Works characterized as painterly can be produced using any painting media.

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