esquisse

Esquisse is a French term meaning sketch or outline and is used in English and other languages to denote a preliminary or rough drawing, plan, or model. The word derives from the French verb esquisser, to sketch.

In the visual arts, esquisses are common across painting, drawing, sculpture, and architecture. They function as early studies that test composition, form, perspective, lighting, and color ideas before committing to a finished work. Esquisses may be quick, fragmentary, and executed in any medium, including pencil, charcoal, ink, wash, or small-scale maquettes. They reveal an artist's evolving ideas and decision points, and can be used to communicate intent to patrons or collaborators.

In music, esquisse or esquisses are used to describe short, draft pieces or studies that precede a larger composition. They may explore motifs, harmonic progressions, or orchestration ideas in an exploratory manner. Some composers publish or preserve such sketches as works in their own right, while others keep them for archival study.

In art-historical contexts, collections of esquisses are valued for insights into the creative process and the development of major works, including initial compositional layouts, rough portraits, or model studies. They vary in finish and are often treated as historical documents as much as potential blueprints for later masterpieces.