Firnis

From Middle High German firnîs, vernîʒ, from Old French vernis.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɪʁnɪs/

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Firnis m (strong, genitive Firnisses, plural Firnisse)

1. (especially art) varnish (clear, hardening protective layer, typically from linseed oil, especially applied to paintings)
   • 1979, Wolfgang Schöne, Über das Licht in der Malerei, Berlin: Mann, →ISBN, page 109:

     Die Bildlichtphänomene der modernen Malerei kommen nur dann voll zur Geltung, wenn die Gemäde gut erhalten, nicht nachgedunkelt und frei von gilblichem Firnis sind ("Galerieton").

     The lighting phenomena of modern painting are only fully effective if the painting is well-preserved, not darkened after the fact, and free of yellow-tinged varnish ("gallery tone").

   • 2002 November 19, Alfred Schmidt, “F: Ölgemälde- wie kann ich es schützen?”, in de.rec.kunst.misc‎^[1] (Usenet):

     Eigenlich stellt der korrekt aufgebrachte Firnis diesen Schutz bereits dar.

     The varnish, applied correctly, should already consitute that protection.

2. (figurative) A metaphorical shallow layer meant to cover up disagreeable qualities.

• Historically also used more generally for all kinds of varnishing, however in this sense it has largely been displaced by Lack, which in turn does not typically refer to varnish on oil paintings.

• firnissen

• Vernissage

• → Kashubian: fernës

• Lack
• Lasur

• “Firnis” in Duden online
• “Firnis” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache