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Easel

arts Maturity 11-13 Next article →

An easel is an upright support structure. It is used to display or fix objects at an angle. This angle is usually about 20 degrees from the vertical.

Tripod easel
Tripod easel

Most artists use these tools to hold a canvas while they work. This allows them to paint while standing up. They also use easels to show finished paintings or prints. The tool is essential for maintaining a steady working surface.

Hframe easels
Hframe easels

There are three primary design types for these supports. The first is the A-frame design. This type is based on three legs, often called a tripod. Some A-frames include crossbars to increase stability. They may also have mechanisms to adjust the vertical plane. The second type is the H-frame design. This design uses right angles and parallel posts. The front portion looks like the letter H.

Hframe easels
Hframe easels

The third type is the multi-purpose design. These combine features of both A-frames and H-frames. They allow for rotational, horizontal, and vertical adjustments.

Artist painting with a Multi Media fully adjustable easel
Artist painting with a Multi Media fully adjustable easel

Different settings require specialized easel models. Studio easels are built for permanent use in a workspace. They can be very large and complex. Some models use winches, multiple masts, or casters to move. These heavy-duty versions can support panels over 7 feet tall. They can also hold weights exceeding 200 pounds.

Artist painting with a Multi Media fully adjustable easel
Artist painting with a Multi Media fully adjustable easel

Field easels, or plein air easels, are designed for portability. Artists use these to work outside in nature. Many field easels use telescopic or collapsible legs. French box easels are a specific portable type. They include compartments for supplies and handles for carrying. They can even be carried like a backpack.

Other specialized tools exist for photography and education. In a photographic darkroom, an easel holds paper. It keeps the paper flat or upright during the enlarging process.

Maskownica
Maskownica

Some darkroom models use overlapping steel blades. These blades crop the image to a specific size. This technique leaves a white border around the photo. Facilitation easels are used to collect ideas from groups. They hold large pads of paper and marker trays. Children's easels are shorter and built to be durable. They often feature chalkboards or dry erase boards.

History shows that humans have used these tools for millennia. The ancient Egyptians used them in their daily lives. In the 1st century, Pliny the Elder mentioned large panels on easels.

Pissarro mit Familie an seiner mobilen Staffelei, Éragny, 1901. Archives Musée Camille Pissarro
Pissarro mit Familie an seiner mobilen Staffelei, Éragny, 1901. Archives Musée Camille Pissarro

In the 1810s, Empress Marie-Louise gave an easel to Jean-Baptiste Isabey. This was a gift for his work as a miniaturist. The word "easel" has an interesting origin. It comes from an old Germanic word meaning donkey. In some languages, the word for the tool is the same as the word for the animal.

Pissarro mit Familie an seiner mobilen Staffelei, Éragny, 1901. Archives Musée Camille Pissarro
Pissarro mit Familie an seiner mobilen Staffelei, Éragny, 1901. Archives Musée Camille Pissarro

In art history, the term "easel painting" has a specific meaning. It refers to midsize paintings created on a support. This is different from a fresco, which is painted on a wall. It is also different from a large altarpiece. Large works might be painted while resting on the floor. Small works, like miniatures, might be made at a desk. However, an easel painting is usually meant to be framed. Most are intended to hang on a wall for display.

Modern easels are made from various durable materials. Traditional models are typically made of wood. However, many are now constructed from aluminum or steel. Most artist easels are fully adjustable for different angles. They often include anti-skid plates on the feet. These plates prevent the easel from sliding during use. Many designs are also collapsible. This allows them to fit into small studio spaces easily.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Tripod easel.jpg
Tripod easel.jpg
File:StateLibQld 1 102016 Interior of Brisbane Technical College Signwriting class, ca. 1900.jpg
StateLibQld 1 102016 Interior of Brisbane...
File:Hframe easels.jpg
Hframe easels.jpg
File:Artist painting with a Multi Media fully adjustable easel.jpg
Artist painting with a Multi Media fully...
File:Pissarro mit Familie an seiner mobilen Staffelei, Éragny, 1901. Archives Musée Camille Pissarro.jpg
Pissarro mit Familie an seiner mobilen...
File:Maskownica.jpg
Maskownica.jpg
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