vernissage
noun /ˌvɜːnɪˈsɑːʒ/
/ˌvɜːrnɪˈsɑːʒ/
(plural vernissages
/ˌvɜːnɪˈsɑːʒ/
/ˌvɜːrnɪˈsɑːʒ/
)- an occasion when a few invited people can look at paintings before they go on show to the publicWord OriginFrench, literally ‘varnishing’, originally referring to the day prior to an exhibition when artists were allowed to retouch and varnish hung work.