die Malerei
painting
The art or activity of creating pictures with colors.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat sich schon in ihrer Jugend für die Malerei interessiert.
She was already interested in painting in her youth.
die Malerei
painting
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Meanings
die Malerei
painting
A single painted work of art, that is, a painting, or also the complete body of works by an artist or from a period.
EXAMPLE
Im Museum hängt eine berühmte Malerei von Caspar David Friedrich.
A famous painting by Caspar David Friedrich hangs in the museum.
die Malerei
painting style
A particular style or movement in the art of painting.
EXAMPLE
Die italienische Malerei der Renaissance hat die Kunstgeschichte nachhaltig geprägt.
Italian painting of the Renaissance had a lasting influence on art history.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Die Malerei' (painting) is derived from the verb 'malen' (to paint). The ending '-ei' often denotes an activity (as here), a place (Bäckerei, bakery), or the result of an activity.
EXAMPLE
Er malt in seiner Freizeit gerne Landschaften.
He likes to paint landscapes in his free time.
Context clue
The three meanings are closely related. 'Malerei' (without an article) often means the art form. 'Eine Malerei' is a single picture. 'Die Malerei einer Epoche' (e.g. 'die Malerei der Romantik') describes a style.
EXAMPLE
Sie interessiert sich für Malerei.
She is interested in painting.
Typical collocations
When 'Malerei' means the art form as a whole, it is often used with verbs such as 'sich interessieren für' (to be interested in), 'studieren' (to study), or 'sich beschäftigen mit' (to engage with).
EXAMPLE
An der Universität kann man Kunstgeschichte und Malerei studieren.
At university, you can study art history and painting.
Sentence structure and usage patterns
To describe a particular style, 'Malerei' is often combined with an adjective, e.g. 'moderne Malerei' (modern painting), or a genitive attribute, e.g. 'die Malerei des Barock' (Baroque painting).
EXAMPLE
Moderne Malerei ist oft sehr experimentell.
Modern painting is often very experimental.
Compare with
Malerei vs Gemälde
painting
Gemälde and Malerei can both refer to a single painted work of art. Gemälde is the usual, clearly countable word for this, whereas Malerei more often refers to the art of painting, a style, or several works. When talking about a specific picture, Gemälde is usually the better choice; Malerei then sounds more general or less specific.
Malerei
Die Malerei hängt seit Jahren im großen Saal.
The painting has been hanging in the grand hall for years.
Gemälde
Das Gemälde hängt seit Jahren im großen Saal.
The painting has been hanging in the grand hall for years.
In real life
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