Impasto
noun /ɪmˈpæstəʊ/ — Paint applied so thickly it retains the texture of the stroke.
Definition
A technique in which paint is laid on a canvas or board in thick layers, so the brushstrokes or palette-knife marks remain visible and give the surface a three-dimensional texture.
Beyond the definition
Impasto is painting as gesture — you can see the force of the stroke, the speed of the hand, the emotional weight behind the mark. Van Gogh's impasto makes his work feel almost sculpted, as if the night sky has physical substance.
Origin & history
From Italian impasto, from impastare (to knead dough). The analogy is exact — thick paint worked like dough, retaining the impression of the hands that worked it.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Van Gogh's impasto in The Starry Night gives the sky a turbulent, almost physical energy.
She built up layers of impasto until the brushstrokes cast actual shadows on the canvas.
There is an impasto quality to his writing — dense, textured, never smooth.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Impasto” when the meaning fits your context: A technique in which paint is laid on a canvas or board in thick layers, so the brushstrokes or palette-knife marks remain visible and give the surface a three-dimensional texture.
Synonyms
thick paint application, textured brushwork
Antonyms
glazing, wash, thin layering
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Artist Focused on Painting
An artist works in a studio, surrounded by tools, their hands covered in pigment, focused on a painting detail.
While the image shows the act of painting, it represents the potential for impasto; the thick, textured pigments on the artist's hands suggest the physical, three-dimensional nature of paint application where brushstrokes or marks leave visible, thick layers on a surface.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Impasto" mean?
Impasto is noun meaning: Paint applied so thickly it retains the texture of the stroke.. A technique in which paint is laid on a canvas or board in thick layers, so the brushstrokes or palette-knife marks remain visible and give the surface a three-dimensional texture.
Where does the word "Impasto" come from?
From Italian impasto, from impastare (to knead dough). The analogy is exact — thick paint worked like dough, retaining the impression of the hands that worked it.