Which painting technique involves applying pigments to wet plaster?

Which painting technique involves applying pigments to wet plaster?

• A. Gesso
• B. Glaze
• C. Fresco
• D. Lithograph

Answer: (C)

Fresco is the painting technique in which pigments are applied to wet plaster. In true fresco, the plaster surface (intonaco) is laid on while still damp, and pigments mixed with water are painted onto that fresh surface. As the plaster dries, it undergoes a chemical change that binds the pigment to the wall, creating a durable, unified image. This differs from gesso, which is just a priming ground to prepare a surface; glaze, which refers to thin, transparent layers used to build depth in oil or tempera painting; and lithography, a printmaking process that uses a stone or metal plate rather than painting on plaster.

Fresco is the painting technique in which pigments are applied to wet plaster. In true fresco, the plaster surface (intonaco) is laid on while still damp, and pigments mixed with water are painted onto that fresh surface. As the plaster dries, it undergoes a chemical change that binds the pigment to the wall, creating a durable, unified image. This differs from gesso, which is just a priming ground to prepare a surface; glaze, which refers to thin, transparent layers used to build depth in oil or tempera painting; and lithography, a printmaking process that uses a stone or metal plate rather than painting on plaster.