ligne claire

noun

A style of drawing focusing on strong, clear shapes and bold coloring without hatching or shading; typically featuring cartoonish characters against realistic backgrounds.

OriginFrench ligne claire ← Dutch klare lijn →
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Meanings

nounligne claire (uncountable)
  1. uncountablecomicsA style of drawing focusing on strong, clear shapes and bold coloring without hatching or shading; typically featuring cartoonish characters against realistic backgrounds.

Origin

  1. Dutchklare lijn“clear line”
  2. Frenchligne claire“clear line”
  3. Englishligne claire

From French ligne claire (“clear line”), originally from Dutch klare lijn (“clear line”), originally coined by Dutch artist Joost Swarte in 1977 to describe the work of Belgian artist Hergé.

More words from French, Dutch

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ligne claire. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ligne%20claire

MLA

“ligne claire.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ligne%20claire. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ligne claire,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ligne%20claire.

Source: ligne claire on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.