Wash (visual arts)

A wash is a term for a visual arts technique resulting in a semi-transparent layer of colour.

Historically associated with the four arts of the scholar-officials, the technique was often applied to landscapes in traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean painting.

The result is a smooth and uniform area that ideally lacks the appearance of brush strokes and is semi-transparent.

However, when gum arabic watercolor washes are applied to a highly absorbent surface, such as paper, the effects are long lasting.

[2] In ceramics, a wash is typically a coloring oxide thinned with water applied to the piece to achieve an effect similar to a glaze.

Xia Gui ( Song dynasty ) – Mountain Market- Clear with Rising Mist , one of the 8 scenes of the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang , a favourite subject in the Chinese ink wash painting tradition, showing the variety of effects achievable with black ink.
Rembrandt selectively used a wash technique in his depictions of lions to enhance the contrast between "the heavy manes and supple skin". [ 1 ]