A painting technique where the artwork is completed in one session while the paint is still wet, without underpainting or extensive layering. The approach emphasizes directness and spontaneity in capturing the subject.
From Italian meaning 'at first' or 'at once,' referring to the direct, immediate approach of completing a painting in a single sitting. The technique became prominent during the Impressionist era when artists painted outdoors and needed to work quickly.
Alla prima was the technique that liberated painters from their studios - instead of spending weeks building up layers, artists could grab their easels and capture a sunset, a bustling street scene, or shifting light on water in real time! This 'wet-into-wet' approach gave birth to Impressionism and changed art forever by prioritizing the fleeting moment over polished perfection.
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