In art, deriving from the French word gris (gray) this refers to painting executed entirely in monochromatic tones of gray and white. Although often used for study sketches, a painting en grisaille can be a completed work in its own right. Sometimes it has been executed as a model for an engraver to work from, or is the initial compositional under painting for an unfinished picture. In Chinese ceramics this term is sometimes used to describe porcelains decorated with black or dark brown over-glaze enamel.
A decoration of mainly in tones of gray, presenting an appearance with more shades than "encre-de-chine". with few exceptions mostly used in export porcelain.
See also: Encre-de-chine and Sepia
A
Back to Gotheborg.com Home Page