Impasto
/ɪmˈpæstoʊ/noun
A painting technique in which paint is laid on thickly so it stands out from the surface.
Did you know?Its roots trace back to Latin pasta, “dough” or “paste,” so the word began with the idea of material being kneaded and pressed together before it became an art term.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
impastare
“to paste over, to make into a paste; to thicken or coat with paste”
Late Latin / Medieval Italian
Italian
impasto
“a paste, mixture, or thickened mass”
17th Century
Italian
impasto
“a thick application of paint or a textured mixture”
19th Century
English
impasto
“the technique of applying paint thickly so brushstrokes or palette-knife marks remain visible”
Modern English
English
impasto
“a painting technique using thick, textured paint”