Vernissage

A vernissage (from French, originally meaning "varnishing") is a preview of an art exhibition, which may be private, before the formal opening.

[1] If the vernissage is not open to the public, but only to invited guests, it is often called a private view.

The custom of patrons and the élite of visiting the academies during the varnishing day prior to the formal opening of the exhibition gave rise to the tradition of celebrating the completion of an art work or a series of art works with friends and sponsors.

There is a comparable ceremonial ending of art exhibitions, called a finissage,[2] from the French word meaning "finishing".

Larger art exhibitions may also have an event halfway through their residency called a midissage.