Definition

Noun: 1. A white, plaster-like substance, traditionally made from gypsum or chalk mixed with a binder (like glue), applied as a ground or primer to a rigid surface (such as wood, canvas, or stone) to prepare it for painting, gilding, or carving. It creates a smooth, bright, and absorbent layer. 2. The prepared surface itself, after the gesso has been applied and dried.

Usage and Examples

• As a material/substance:
  • The artist applied three thin coats of gesso to the wooden panel before starting the painting.
  • You must ensure the gesso is completely dry before applying oil paints.
• Referring to the prepared surface:
  • The intricate design was incised into the wet gesso.
  • Gold leaf adheres beautifully to a smooth gesso.

Advanced Usage

• Acrylic Gesso: A modern, more flexible and commonly used variant made with an acrylic polymer binder. It is often used on flexible canvases.
  • For acrylic paintings, it's standard to prime the canvas with acrylic gesso.
• Traditional Gesso (Gesso Grosso/Gesso Sottile): Refers to historical recipes using rabbit-skin glue and chalk/gypsum, used on solid panels. It is brittle and not suitable for flexible canvases.
  • Restorers studying Renaissance panels analyzed the layers of traditional gesso.

Variants and Related Words

• Gessoed (adj.): Describes a surface that has been coated with gesso.
  • She worked on a gessoed masonite board.
• Ground / Primer (n.): More general terms for a preparatory coating applied to a surface before painting. Gesso is a specific type of ground.
  • A good ground is essential for the longevity of the artwork.

Synonyms

• Primer
• Ground
• Preparation layer
• Base coat

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning of "gesso" is intrinsically linked to art and craft preparation. It is not used in general contexts outside of preparing surfaces for artistic work (painting, gilding, decorative arts). Its function is to seal the support, provide a desirable texture, and create a bright, uniform surface that improves paint adhesion and appearance.

Noun

1. gypsum or plaster of Paris spread on a surface to make it suitable for painting or gilding (or a surface so prepared)