TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
CAMAIEU [5 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2017-03-30
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Painting (Arts)
- Special-Language Phraseology
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- monochrome painting
1, record 1, English, monochrome%20painting
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- monochromatic painting 2, record 1, English, monochromatic%20painting
correct
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A painting executed in one colour. 3, record 1, English, - monochrome%20painting
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Monochrome painting began in 1919 with White on White by Kasimir Malevich. A year later Alexander Rodchenko created primary color paintings. Artists like Ellsworth Kelly continued to develop monochromatic painting. Painters using one color toyed with the idea that painting was dead. But art writers like Carter Ratcliff postulate that monochromatic painting may have led to an elemental rebirth of the medium. 1, record 1, English, - monochrome%20painting
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
monochrome (adj.) of, relating to, or made with a single color or hue. 4, record 1, English, - monochrome%20painting
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 PHR
create a monochromatic painting, do a monochromatic painting 3, record 1, English, - monochrome%20painting
Record 1, Key term(s)
- camaïeu
- camayeu
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Peinture (Arts)
- Phraséologie des langues de spécialité
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- peinture monochrome
1, record 1, French, peinture%20monochrome
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Alphonse Allais (1854-1905) [...] On lui doit l'invention de la peinture monochrome, [il] laissa sept œuvres impérissables dont un rectangle uniformément rouge : «Récolte de la tomate par des cardinaux apoplectiques au bord de la Mer Rouge». 1, record 1, French, - peinture%20monochrome
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
monochrome : Se dit de ce qui est d'une seule couleur. 2, record 1, French, - peinture%20monochrome
Record 1, Key term(s)
- camayeu
- camaïeu
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2001-08-16
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Engraving and Printmaking (Arts)
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- camaïeu
1, record 2, English, cama%C3%AFeu
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A woodblock print that imitates highlighted drawing on tinted paper. 1, record 2, English, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
An example of a camaïeu ...: Hans Baldung Grien (German, 1484/5-1545), The Witches, 1510, woodcut, two plates (gray and black), 0.378 x 0.258 m, Louvre. 1, record 2, English, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Hans Baldung Grien ... This pupil of Dürer was interested in the camaieu printing technique, a wood engraving which imitated, highlighted drawings on tinted paper. 2, record 2, English, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record 2, Key term(s)
- camaïeu wood engraving
- camaïeu woodcut
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Gravure d'art
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- gravure en camaïeu
1, record 2, French, gravure%20en%20cama%C3%AFeu
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Gravure sur bois exécutée à l'aide de deux planches ou plus, encrées de tons différents d'une même couleur. 2, record 2, French, - gravure%20en%20cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Le terme de camaïeu désigne [...] une gravure dont les tirages sont faits avec une seule encre. 3, record 2, French, - gravure%20en%20cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Au XXe siècle, certains artistes, par exemple Picasso ou Matisse, ont adopté la gravure en relief sur linoléum épais, dont la technique est analogue à celle de la gravure sur bois. La linogravure ne permet ni un travail minutieux ni beaucoup de finesse, mais accuse nettement les contrastes. La gravure en camaïeu, variante de la gravure sur bois, nécessite l'emploi de deux planches et vise à imiter les effets d'un dessin au lavis. 4, record 2, French, - gravure%20en%20cama%C3%AFeu
Record 2, Key term(s)
- gravure en camayeu
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2001-08-16
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Painting (Arts)
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- camaïeu
1, record 3, English, cama%C3%AFeu
correct, see observation
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- camaieu 2, record 3, English, camaieu
correct
- camayeu 3, record 3, English, camayeu
correct
- monochrome 1, record 3, English, monochrome
correct
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A painting or drawing in a single hue. 1, record 3, English, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 DEF
A painting or decoration done in varying shades of the same color. A monochrome painting. 4, record 3, English, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Camaieu is also used for a painting, wherein there is only one colour; and where the lights and shadows are of gold, wrought on a golden, or azure ground. 3, record 3, English, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Monochrome painting began in 1919 with White on White by Kasimir Malevich. A year later Alexander Rodchenko created primary color paintings. Artists like Ellsworth Kelly continued to develop monochromatic painting. Painters using one color toyed with the idea that painting was dead. But art writers like Carter Ratcliff postulate that monochromatic painting may have led to an elemental rebirth of the medium. 5, record 3, English, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 OBS
n. plural: camaïeux. 1, record 3, English, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record 3, Key term(s)
- monochrome painting
- monochromatic painting
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Peinture (Arts)
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- camaïeu
1, record 3, French, cama%C3%AFeu
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Peinture n'utilisant que les différences de tons, du clair au foncé, d'une seule et même couleur ou teinte. 2, record 3, French, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Au sens strict du terme, le camaïeu désigne une peinture dont le motif principal, d'une seule couleur, se détache par contraste sur un fond d'une seule couleur nettement différente, le plus souvent un blanc par rapport à un bleu, un rouge, un noir ou un vert, procédé qui imite les camées. L'effet de silhouette de ce motif se trouve donc accentué au point de créer l'illusion d'une «dentelle» ou d'un bas-relief comme dans les frises de style néo-classique peintes à la fin du XVIIIe siècle et au début du XIXe, et dans les fresques du style «pompéien» de la Restauration et du Second Empire. 3, record 3, French, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
camaïeu : Par extension, l'expression désigne aussi une peinture en grisaille (chiaroscuro, ou clair-obscur) utilisée depuis le XVe siècle en Italie dans les décorations monochromes ou à deux tons (clair sur sombre, beige sur rouge, par exemple), ou blanc sur gris, pour orner les murs des palais ou les dessus de portes. 3, record 3, French, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Pluriel : des camaïeus (Mauriac, Cocteau, in Grevisse), parfois (Proust, Vialar, ibid.) des camaïeux. L'Académie 1987 donne des camaïeux. 4, record 3, French, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 3 OBS
Un camaïeu gris ou jaunâtre est appelé grisaille. 2, record 3, French, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record 3, Key term(s)
- camayeu
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2001-08-16
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Painting (Arts)
- Special-Language Phraseology
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- camaïeu
1, record 4, English, cama%C3%AFeu
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
- camaieu 2, record 4, English, camaieu
correct
- camaieu technique 3, record 4, English, camaieu%20technique
correct
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Painting with a single colour (monochrome) in two or three tones only ...; the technique is often employed to give the spectator, the illusion that the image is carved ... 2, record 4, English, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 PHR
Painting in monochrome 4, record 4, English, - cama%C3%AFeu
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Peinture (Arts)
- Phraséologie des langues de spécialité
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- technique du camaïeu
1, record 4, French, technique%20du%20cama%C3%AFeu
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Emploi d'une seule couleur avec ses différents tons. 2, record 4, French, - technique%20du%20cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
La technique du camaïeu L'ensemble de votre motif sera réalisé à l'aide d'un seul coloris qui sera dilué de manière différente à certains endroits, afin d'obtenir une gamme infinie de tons dégradés. 3, record 4, French, - technique%20du%20cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 PHR
Peindre en camaïeu. 4, record 4, French, - technique%20du%20cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 2 PHR
Couleurs utilisées en camaïeu, décors en camaïeu bleu et noir, peinture en camaïeu, procédé du camaïeu, teinte de camaïeu. 4, record 4, French, - technique%20du%20cama%C3%AFeu
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 3 PHR
Camaïeu délicat. 4, record 4, French, - technique%20du%20cama%C3%AFeu
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 2001-08-16
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Painting (Arts)
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- grisaille
1, record 5, English, grisaille
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
... monochrome painting carried out mostly in shades of grey. 2, record 5, English, - grisaille
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
grisaille ... Such works were often produced in the Renaissance to simulate sculpture, as in Uccello's equestrian portrait of Sir John Hawkswood (Cathedral of Florence). Painters of stained glass frequently used grisaille. In the 17th cent. grisaille was prized for interior decoration. 3, record 5, English, - grisaille
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
The use of the French word can be traced only to 1625, since although grisaille painting was done in preceding centuries, it was not referred to as such. The alternative expression "peinture en camaïeu (gris)" is also documented only more recently. In the 16th century there are occasional references to "dead colour", but this term is no longer used. At the time of its origin, in the medieval period, grisaille painting was simply called "painting in black and white", as is clear, for example, from an entry in the inventories of Jean de France, Duc de Berry, of 1401, 1413 and 1416: 'Item, unes petites heures de Nostre Dame...enluminées de blanc et de noir'. However, this description is not very precise, as grisaille painting was never merely black and white at that time but was always combined with (more or less sparingly used) colours. The term grisaille, as commonly used today, itself only inadequately describes the various modes it subsumes. Their only common feature is the more or less exclusive use of non-coloured pigments, while they diverge technically and aesthetically to an often astonishing extent. 2, record 5, English, - grisaille
Record 5, Key term(s)
- dead colour
- dead color
- camaïeu
- camayeu
- black and white painting
- painting in black and white
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Peinture (Arts)
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- grisaille
1, record 5, French, grisaille
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
- peinture en camaïeu gris 2, record 5, French, peinture%20en%20cama%C3%AFeu%20gris
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Peinture monochrome en camaïeu gris ou de couleur proche du gris. 1, record 5, French, - grisaille
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Le terme de grisaille désigne une peinture traitée en monochromie pour imiter le bas-relief à l'aide d'une dégradation entre le noir et le blanc de valeurs grises. Cette monochromie peut être établie également à partir d'une gamme chromatique différente à base de vert, par exemple [...] 3, record 5, French, - grisaille
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
L'appellation [grisaille] est parfois synonyme de «camaïeu» et surtout de «clair-obscur», comme le précise Vasari dans son introduction aux «Trois Arts du dessin» [...] Il faut évoquer enfin l'emploi du terme «grisaille» dans l'art du vitrail, où il désigne soit une expression monochrome, soit une modification de valeur de la même couleur. 3, record 5, French, - grisaille
Record 5, Key term(s)
- camaïeu
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: