Study
A quick sketch from life to capture impressions
A study is a small painting or sketch created by the artist directly from life, most often en plein air. The study is painted quickly to capture changing light, atmosphere, shades, or the mood of the moment. The main task is not the elaboration of details but the transmission of a general impression. Studies often become the basis for future large canvases, but they are also valued in themselves for their freshness and sincerity.
Interestingly, in the 19th century, competition for the perfect light among artists sometimes led to "battles for the place on the beach"!
Today, studies are popular with collectors because of their special energy and spontaneity.