noun
- plural of bistre; a brownish pigment made from the soot of wood fires, used in drawing and painting
Usage: also spelled 'bister' in American English; commonly used in art and illustration
Examples
- The artist mixed several bistres to create different shades of brown for the landscape.
- Old master drawings often employed bistres as a primary medium.
- She collected various bistres from different manufacturers to compare their tones.
- The museum's collection includes sketches rendered in bistres from the 18th century.
- Bistres remain popular among traditional artists who prefer natural pigments.