Grisaille (grɪʼzaɪ, -ʼzeɪl; French: gris, grey) is a term for painting executed entirely in monochrome or near-monochrome, usually in shades of grey. It is particularly used in large decorative schemes in imitation of sculpture.. Many grisailles in fact include a slightly wider colour range. This technique has its roots in ancient times but was mostly applied from the 15th to the 18th century.
Grisailles appear already in the art of classical antiquity. Even then it was used to imitate a sculpture or a relief in stone, wood or bronze.In the 17th and 18th century grisailles were increasingly used as an imitation of sculpture and ornament in houses. Pim Stallmann learned the grisaille technique in the studio of Anna Arcese in Leiden. As background for the tango couples it revives the atmosphere of the past glory of ancient palaces.
