What does gesso mean?
Gesso is a white preparation of gypsum or chalk, normally mixed with glue or another binder, that is used to create a smooth ground for painting, gilding, and decorative work. It is especially associated with preparing wooden panels, papier-mâché objects, sculpture, and other surfaces that require a fine, even foundation. Traditional gesso commonly contains animal glue, while modern acrylic gesso uses a synthetic emulsion and dries to a durable white surface. The word can denote either the material itself or the prepared ground, and artists may apply it in several thin coats, sanding between them to produce a smooth finish. Although closely related to plaster and gypsum, gesso has a more specific identity in artistic and conservation practices. Its familiar presence beneath paintings and gilded objects makes it an important term for anyone interested in painting, decorative arts, craft techniques, or the history of art conservation.
nounA white preparation of gypsum or chalk bound with glue or another binder, used as a ground for painting, gilding, and decorative work. It may also refer to the smooth, prepared surface produced with this material.
- A white plaster mixture, traditionally made from gypsum or chalk and glue, used to prepare surfaces for painting, gilding, and decorative work.
- A smooth white ground prepared with such a mixture, especially on panels, sculpture, and other decorative objects.
"She applied three thin coats of gesso to the wooden panel before painting it."
"The restorer repaired the gesso before applying a new layer of gold leaf."
"Acrylic gesso provides a durable, pale surface for the illustrator's watercolor work."
Gesso is generally a mass noun, so it is normally used without a plural form.
"The artist applied another thin coat of gesso."
Gesso—Italian for “plaster”—is the white groundwork behind many gilded, painted, and meticulously prepared surfaces.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gesso come from?
English borrowed the word from Italian gesso, meaning “plaster” or “gypsum,” during the period when Italian art terminology was influential in England. Italian gesso comes from Latin gypsum, which in turn derives from Greek gypsos. The English word initially referred broadly to plaster before becoming associated with the prepared white ground used by painters and decorators.
How gesso is actually used
This is chiefly an artistic, craft, and conservation term. The composition and binder can vary, especially between traditional and modern acrylic formulations.
Easily confused with gesso
Gypsum is the mineral calcium sulfate used to make gesso, whereas gesso is the prepared plaster mixture or the ground made from it.