Ensor Research Project

Glossary

A

Abrasion

Dutch

slijtage

Rubbed or scuffed areas caused by a gradual loss of material on the surface due to rubbing, wearing, or scraping of an object or material against itself or another usually harder object or material. Abrasion may be a deliberate attempt to smooth, clean, or polish a surface. It may also be a deteriorative process that occurs over time as a result of weathering or handling.

Adhesive

Dutch

lijm

A substance, in the form of a liquid, paste, powder, or dry film; used for sticking or adhering one surface to another. A substance capable of holding materials together by a surface attachment. Adhesives are most commonly activated by water, solvents, pressure, or heat.

B

Binder

Dutch

Bindmiddel

Alternative term

Medium

A substance that produces or promotes cohesion among loosely assembled materials. In paints, the binder, such as drying oils, egg yolk, natural or synthetic resins, forms a solid film that adheres the pigments to the substrate.

C

Cardboard

Dutch

Karton

A type of stiff pasteboard that is thicker than 0.006 inches, typically consisting of good-quality chemical pulp or rag pasteboard, and varying greatly in type and stability. High quality archival cardboard is made from rag pulp and has a low acid content, used for mounting prints, drawings and watercolors. Other grades of cardboard is used for cards, signs, printed materials, and high-quality boxes. In this context, cardboard is mostly used as study material to make oil sketches on.

Craquelure/cracks

Dutch

Breuken verflaag/craquelé

The network of fine cracks on the surface of a painting that develops as the work dries and ages. Fracture lines in coating layers caused by localized, specific pressures. The character of the crack formation is related to the painting techniques and materials used.

Crazing

Fine cracks or fissures in the surface of hardened or dried material, such as varnish, concrete, plaster, paint, or ceramic glazes; sometimes appearing opaque; usually not exposing the underlying surface.

Cross section

Dutch

dwarsdoorsnede

A tiny sample taken from an area of a painting used to study the layer structure of the materials present (stratigraphy). Sections made by a plane cutting anything transversely, especially at right angles to the longest axis. The sample is taken along the painting plane, embedded in resin, and polished orthogonally to the layers of interest to reveal the layer structure.

Cusping

Dutch

spanguirlandes

Alternative term

Primary and Secondary cusping

Distortions along the edges of a canvas caused by tension from the nails or tacks that attach it to the stretcher or strainer. This tension forms a characteristic undulation that is also referred to as scalloping. A canvas is nailed to the window, and then glued and primed. This ensures that the shape of the tension garlands are fixed in the canvas. These garlands are very visible, they are called primary cusping. Secondary cusping occurs when that canvas with the primary cuspings is cut into several pieces and the smaller pieces of canvas are re-straightened. Because the canvas already has priming and gluing at that point, the re-straightened is hardly going to produce a pattern of guirlandes. Because those shapes are much less distinct, this is called secondary cusping. https://countingvermeer.rkdstudies.nl/3-sixty-years-of-thread-counting/37-secondary-cusping/

D

Dammar resin

Dutch

Dammarhars

Dammar is used as a glazing or clouding agent in cooking, as incense, for caulking ships, and as varnish, especially as a picture varnish.

Dead coloring

Dutch

Doodverven

A monochromatic underpainting over which subsequent paint layers are applied. https://paintings.theclowescollection.org/glossary/#A

Dendrochronology

Dutch

Dendrochronologie

The scientific technique of dating events, intervals of time, and variations in environment understood by studying the sequence of and differences between rings of growth in trees and aged wood. Variations in the width of a tree's growth rings indicate yearly climatic conditions for its local growing region. Measuring 50 to 100 years of growth rings produces a pattern that can be compared with master charts to determine a tree's active growing years. This information can thus be used to determine the felling date of trees that were used to make panel paintings.

Dovetail joint

Dutch

Zwaluwstaartverbinding

Interlocking joints formed by a flaring or fanlike tenon and a mortise into which it fits tightly.

Dye

Dutch

Kleurstof

A compound -- generally a complex organic material that dissolves or is suspended in a liquid -- that absorbs into and colors another material. Distinguished from a pigment, which is insoluble in the vehicle, but instead is held in a suspension.

E

Engraving

Dutch

Gravure

Alternative term

Prints

Prints on paper incorporating impressions of a reverse design created on a printing plate, usually copper, into which the design has been incised (engraved) using burins or gravers.

F

Facing

Dutch

Facing

The process of covering the front surface of something with new material, such as layers of tissue (non-woven) or paper applied to a paint surface with an adhesive to create a protective barrier. Meanwhile, work can be done on the back of the painting.

Fill

Dutch

Vulling/vullen

On paintings, a material usually used to fill a loss in the paint and/or ground layer (lacunae) and provides a surface for inpainting. Fill materials are often composed of chalk or gypsum mixed with adhesive. To eliminate the white area, a retouching is applied.

G

Glaze

Dutch

Glacie/glaceren

Thin, usually glossy surface coating that is composed of a high medium-to-pigment ratio. It is frequently applied over opaque layers of paint to alter their tonality.

Ground/ground layer

Dutch

Grondering/grondlaag

Alternative term

Primer

A white ground or other coating applied to a surface before painting to give uniform texture and absorbency.

I

Impasto

Dutch

Pasteuze verftoets

Application of paint in thick, opaque masses, usually with a well-loaded brush or a palette knife. Marks from the implement of application are often evident.

Imprimatura

Dutch

Imprimatura

In a painting, a colored glaze/paint, size, or wash (often lead-based) applied on top of a white ground, to provide the initial tone for the design layer en to set up the composition.

Inpainting/retouching

Dutch

retoucheren

The introduction of new paint into and limited to areas of loss in the original paint layer in order to restore design continuity. For similar work not done by conservators, see "retouching." Where additions partially or wholly cover areas of original paint to mask unwanted features, see "overpainting."

L

Lacunae/paint loss

Dutch

Lacunes/verfverlies

Alternative term

Lacuna

Blank spaces or missing portions of paint or a coating on a three dimensional object; objects subject to lacunae include paintings, mosaics, manuscripts, and painted sculptures. Lacunae result from damage or accidental omission; intentional omissions are not called "lacunae".

Lead soap

Dutch

Loodzeep/loodzepen

Metallic salts formed from long-chain organic acids and lead ions. Degradation phenomenon due to the reaction of the fatty acids from the paint with a metallic pigment in the paint. In the process, soaps are formed, small globes can grow and break through the paint layer. This can cause damage to the paint layer. https://paintings.theclowescollection.org/glossary/#A

Lifting

Dutch

Opstuwingen

Partial rising of a topcoat such as a paint, solvent, or varnish layer, due to the break in adhesion to the undercoat or surface layer

Lining

Dutch

Doubleren/bedoeken

Alternative term

Marouflage

The process of stregthening or stabilizing by use of an inner layer, usually using paper or fabric. In conservation and other contexts, the process of reinforcing a work by applying a paper or fabric lining with an adhesive, sewing, or another method used to strengthen, flatten or consolidate oil or tempera paintings on canvas by attaching a new support to the back of the existing one.

Linseed oil

Dutch

Lijnzaadolie

Drying oil used as a paint medium; hardens over several weeks as components of the oil polymerize to form an insoluble matrix. Linseed oil contains a range of fatty acids in the following percentages.

M

Marouflage

Dutch

Maroufleren/marouflage

A method of mounting a flexible support such as paper or textile onto a solid support such as a wall or panel, whether before painting or afterwards. May be extended to lining a painting with another canvas to strengthen it.

Mica-powder

Dutch

Mica-poeder

Group of monoclinic minerals with perfect basal cleavage.

Migrating

Dutch

Migreren van lagen

When a layer of the painting (underlayer, intermediate layer, paint layer, surface, varnish layer) emerges upwards or downwards.

O

Overpaint

Dutch

overschildering

A layer of paint that has been applied in such a way that it obscures layers of original paint (already dry areas of painting).

P

Palette knife

Dutch

Paletmes/lemmet

Tools having very flexible blades, used by artists to mix colors or spread paint; sometimes used to apply paint or to clean the palette. Palette knives resemble knives, but do not have sharp edges and are not used for cutting.

Paraloid B-72

Dutch

Paraloid B-72

Trademarked commercial name for a synthetic thermal plastic resin that does not embrittle or discolor over time, having a liquid density of 8.3 pounds per gallon, a flash point of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and a viscosity of 3700-6200 cps. It is widely used in conservation treatments, and in clear and pigmented coatings, aerosols, printing inks, product finishes, and specification lacquers. Formerly called Acryloid B-72 (TM) in the United States.

Pigment

Dutch

Pigment

Any relatively insoluble organic, inorganic, natural or artificial substance that imparts a color to another substance or mixture and always appears as the same specific color when viewed in white light. It is the constituent of paint or ink that provides the color. Distinguished from a dye, which is soluble in the vehicle, a pigment is insoluble in the vehicle, but instead is held in a suspension.

Pigment grains

Dutch

Pigmentkorrels

not defined yet

Plain weave

Dutch

Linnenbinding

In a plain weave, each weft thread runs alternately over and under a warp thread and each warp thread alternately over and under a weft thread. So the binding report consists of two warp and two weft threads. Plain weave textiles can be tightly or loosely woven.

R

Raking light

Dutch

Raaklicht/scheerlicht

Alternative term

Grazing light

A light exposure that illuminates extreme edges parallel to the subject or at a very oblique angle. It is the exposure that illuminates the painting surface at a very sharp angle so that raised paint clods and blemishes (revealing irregularities) are clearly noticed.

Rebate

Dutch

Groeven/rebate

Alternative term

Rabbet

Any form of recess made in one member of wood, metal, stone, or another material, particularly when the recess is made in order to receive another member. Included are rabbets, which are channels or grooves cut along the edge or face of a member, or rectangular recesses made along a projecting angle to form a step or shoulder.

Red lake

Dutch

Rode lak

Alternative term

Lake pigment

An organic pigment composed of a natural or synthetic dye that has been precipitated onto a semitransparent mordant, usually a metallic salt, and used as a pigment. In the context of restoration processes, red lake is most common.

Restoration

Dutch

Restauratie

The process of making changes to an object or structure so that it will closely approximate its original state or other state at a specific time in its history. More generally, for treatment, preventive care, and research directed toward long-term safekeeping of cultural and natural heritage, see "conservation."

Retouching

Dutch

Retoucheren

Reworking small areas of a painting or photographic negative usually to cover damage or to mask unwanted features.

Ring-porous

Dutch

Ringporige structuur

Wood type of the panel in which the pores of the early wood are more clearly visible than the pores of the late wood and form a well-marked ring.

S

Size

Dutch

Lijmlaag

Glue. Frequently used to refer to a layer applied directly to a panel support before the application of the ground, or between layers of ground, as part of the painting preparation process. https://paintings.theclowescollection.org/glossary/#A

Smalt

Dutch

Smalt

A coarsely ground blue potassium glass containing small amounts of cobalt oxide, which provides the source of the blue color. It is used as a blue colorant in paints, glazes, glass, bluing paper, laundry blue, starch, textiles, and rubber. Although it was intended as a substitute in painting for natural ultramarine blue, which was very expensive, it was discovered that smalt blue discolors when placed in an oil-based medium.

Stratigraphy

Dutch

stratigrafie/verflaagopbouw

Stratigraphic examinations involve the removal of a tiny sample of color which is incorporated into a hard resin, cut and smoothed for examination of its section under a microscope. The technique allows the identification of the layers of which a painting is made and their relative thickness, so as to allow multiple observations on the characteristics of the various layers and therefore on the technique of execution and on the materials used.

Stretcher key

Dutch

Spie van een spieraam

Small wedges of wood that are inserted into slots at the inner corners of a stretcher. Stretcher keys are used to adjust and expand the stretcher. https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Stretchers_and_Strainers:_Glossary

T

Tacking margin

Dutch

Spanranden

The edge of a canvas that attaches to the stretcher or strainer. The tacking margin is wrapped around the side of the stretcher or strainer and tacked or stapled to the wood.

Tamponing

Dutch

Tamponeren

By tamponing you can create a nice smooth color gradient, so that the colors blend seamlessly.

Tangential cut

Dutch

Tangentieel gezaagd

Alternative term

Plain/flat sawn

A cut of wood that follows the longitudinal grain of a tree and runs tangentially to the center of the log so that the annular rings are 45° (or less) to the face of the board. This cut of wood is the most readily available but is less resistant to warp than radially cut wood due to the angle of growth rings. https://paintings.theclowescollection.org/glossary/#A

Tears

Dutch

Scheuren

Separations in a flexible material caused by pulling or wrenching part from part.

Twill weave

Dutch

Keperbindig

A textile weave pattern produced by passing the weft threads over one and under two, or more, threads of the warp. Characterized by parallel diagonal ridges or ribs, the weave may be varied by changing the angle or direction of the twill line, as exemplified in herringbone twill.

U

Underdrawing

Dutch

Ondertekening

Drawings preliminary to other works of art that are actually incorporated into those works. A preparatory drawing (in pencil or chalk) applied to a prepared support, usually over the ground layer, intended to guide the paint application.

Underpainting

Dutch

Onderschildering

A preliminary layer in a painting in which drawing, composition, and tonal values are worked out, or an area in one color which is then to be worked with glazes.

V

Varnish

Dutch

Vernis

A solution of a resin in a volatile solvent or a drying oil, which when spread out in a thin film, dries and hardens by evaporation of the volatile solvent, or by the oxidation of the oil, or both; applied as a protective coating or to enhance the appearance of the surface underneath.

W

Warp

Dutch

Kettingdraad

The threads that are positioned lengthwise in the loom and run parallel to the selvage in a woven textile. They are usually twisted more tightly than the weft threads.

Warping

Dutch

Vervorming paneel/canvas

Bending or twisting out of shape from the canvas or wood panel, such as that caused by drying, dampness, or heat.

Wax-resin impregnation

Dutch

Was-hars impregnatie

The application of a substance, as to textiles or stone, so that the substance interpenetrates, fills, or saturates the material.

Weft

Dutch

Inslagdraad/kettingdraad

The transverse strands of a textile that are woven through the warp threads and run perpendicular to the selvage in woven textiles.

Wet on dry

Dutch

Nat op droog

Painting technique in which wet paint is applied to a dry ground. Given that this is the more usual way of applying paint, the term is typically used only when needed to distinguish it from painting techniques that apply wet paint to a wet ground or wet paint.

Wet on wet

Dutch

Nat-in-nat

A painting technique in which wet paint is applied over underlying layers of wet paint, frequently resulting in the blending or merging of colors.

Rubens

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