passpartout

Passpartout, also spelled passe-partout or pass-partout, is a term with several distinct senses. In picture framing, a passpartout is a mat or mount placed between the artwork and the frame to create a border and to separate the image from the glazing. It is typically made of paper-based or cardboard matting and can be acid-free to protect the work. The opening, or window, is bevel-cut to reveal the artwork, while the surrounding border helps with presentation and framing stability. Materials, colors, and widths vary by style and conservation needs.

Etymology and usage of the term reflect its origins in French. Passe-partout literally means “through all doors” or “master key,” historically referring to a device that could unlock many doors. In English, passe-partout has come to mean a versatile key or tool, and the compound forms passpartout or pass-partout appear in various stylistic and commercial uses.

In literature and popular culture, Passepartout is the name of the loyal French valet in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days (1873). The character accompanies Phileas Fogg on a global journey and is one of Verne’s most recognizable names, often used as a cultural shorthand for a faithful companion.

In video games, Passpartout: The Starving Artist is a 2017 indie painting-simulation title. Players assume the role of a painter in a fictional city, creating artworks to satisfy client demands and earn income, with the name serving as a pun on painting and border-crossing themes.

Outside framing and entertainment, the term can be used more generally to denote something that provides access or versatility, echoing its master-key origin.