Can You Solve Frame Game 106

About "Easel"

An 'Easel' is a standing frame or adjustable tripod structure designed to support an artist's canvas, drawing board, or display board at a comfortable working angle, typically allowing the artist to work vertically rather than horizontally. According to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, easels have been essential tools in the artist's studio since the Renaissance period, when painters developed the practice of working on vertical surfaces to better judge perspective, color relationships, and overall composition from a standing position. The word 'easel' derives from the Dutch word 'ezel,' meaning donkey, as the frame was thought to resemble the animal carrying a load on its back. The Art Institute of Chicago's conservation department documents various types of easels developed for different artistic purposes: large studio easels for monumental works, portable field easels for plein air painting, tabletop easels for smaller works, and display easels for exhibitions. The Metropolitan Museum of Art notes that easel painting itself became a distinct art form during the Renaissance, replacing earlier practices of painting directly on walls (frescoes) or panels laid flat. Modern easels range from simple A-frame designs for students to sophisticated studio easels with counterweight systems, adjustable heights, and tilting mechanisms that accommodate various canvas sizes and painting techniques. The easel remains an iconic symbol of artistic practice and creativity, representing the physical infrastructure that supports the creation of visual art across painting mediums from oils to acrylics to watercolors. Sources: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Art Institute of Chicago.