Definition of craquelure in English:

noun

• A network of fine cracks in the paint or varnish of a painting.

  Example sentences

  • ‘As the medium extends the integrity of the pigment, he manipulates it to achieve substrata and surfaces that range from a glazed appearance or deepening craquelure to the look of pollen, each seductive in its own right.’
  • ‘He obtains chipped and plastery-looking surfaces with a dense craquelure.’
  • ‘The nature of the support will affect the craquelure: that of a canvas painting differs from a work on panel.’
  • ‘A chapter called ‘How to Look at a Painting’ recommends studying craquelure in order to estimate a painting's period and country of origin.’