Medium application device

A device for the direct or indirect application of liquid or pasty application medium to one or both sides of a material web, in particular of paper or board, comprises an applicator unit which discharges the application medium onto the material web in the form of a free application medium jet. In this case, in the region of the applicator unit there is provided a device for producing an electric field, which exerts on the application medium jet moving from the applicator unit to the material web a force which assists its movement. Additionally or alternatively, edge guiding elements can be provided, which guide the lateral edges of the application medium curtain at least on part of its movement under the force of gravity.