9.4 Grattage

Grattage, a surrealist painting technique, involves scraping wet paint from a canvas to create unexpected textures and imagery. Developed in the 1920s, it aligns with Surrealism's goal of accessing the unconscious mind and merging dreams with reality.

Max Ernst pioneered grattage in 1926, placing canvas over textured surfaces before applying and scraping away paint. This technique expanded the surrealist visual vocabulary and inspired other artists to experiment with material-based methods for generating unique compositions.

Definition of grattage

• Grattage emerges as a surrealist painting technique involving scraping wet paint from a canvas
• Developed in the 1920s as part of the broader surrealist movement's exploration of automatic processes
• Connects to Surrealism and Dada through its emphasis on chance, unconscious creation, and rejection of traditional artistic methods

Origins in surrealism

• Surrealist artists sought new ways to access the unconscious mind and create unexpected imagery
• Grattage evolved from earlier surrealist experiments with automatism and found objects
• Aligns with Surrealism's goal of merging dreams and reality in a "super-reality" or surreality

Max Ernst's contributions

Ernst's grattage techniques

Top images from around the web for Ernst's grattage techniques

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  Passage noir (1923) - Max Ernst (1891 - 1976) | Belem, Berar… | Flickr View original

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  Passage noir (1923) - Max Ernst (1891 - 1976) | Belem, Berar… | Flickr View original

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  La Hamaca Cósmica: El surrealismo - Aproximaciones y distancias View original

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Top images from around the web for Ernst's grattage techniques

• 

  Passage noir (1923) - Max Ernst (1891 - 1976) | Belem, Berar… | Flickr View original

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• 

  La Hamaca Cósmica: El surrealismo - Aproximaciones y distancias View original

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  Passage noir (1923) - Max Ernst (1891 - 1976) | Belem, Berar… | Flickr View original

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  La Hamaca Cósmica: El surrealismo - Aproximaciones y distancias View original

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• Pioneered the grattage technique in 1926, inspired by wooden floorboards in a hotel room
• Placed canvas over textured surfaces (wood, wire mesh, leaves) before applying paint
• Scraped away paint to reveal underlying patterns and textures
• Combined grattage with other techniques (frottage, decalcomania) to create complex layered compositions

Influence on surrealist movement

• Introduced a new method for generating unexpected imagery and textures
• Inspired other surrealist artists to experiment with material-based techniques
• Contributed to the movement's exploration of the relationship between chance and artistic creation
• Expanded the surrealist visual vocabulary beyond traditional painting and drawing methods

Process and materials

Surface preparation

• Select a textured surface to place beneath the canvas (wood grain, fabric, found objects)
• Stretch canvas or paper over the chosen textured surface
• Secure the canvas to ensure it remains in place during the painting process
• Apply a ground layer if desired to enhance paint adhesion and final texture

Paint application

• Use oil paints for their slow drying time and malleability
• Apply thick layers of paint to the prepared canvas surface
• Work quickly to maintain paint wetness for optimal scraping results
• Experiment with multiple paint colors for complex layering effects

Scraping tools and methods

• Utilize various tools for scraping (palette knives, combs, cardboard edges)
• Employ different scraping techniques (long strokes, short scratches, circular motions)
• Vary pressure and angle of scraping to achieve diverse textures and patterns
• Experiment with removing paint selectively to create intentional forms or shapes

Visual characteristics

Texture and depth

• Creates raised, tactile surfaces with visible brushstrokes and scrape marks
• Produces a sense of depth through the interplay of exposed and covered areas
• Generates organic, unpredictable textures resembling natural materials (wood grain, rock formations)
• Enhances the visual interest of the artwork through varied surface qualities

Layering effects

• Reveals underlying colors and patterns through selective paint removal
• Creates complex color interactions as different paint layers are exposed
• Builds up multiple layers of paint and texture for a rich, multidimensional surface
• Allows for the emergence of unexpected forms and shapes within the composition

Color interactions

• Produces unique color blending as scraped layers mix and overlap
• Creates subtle color gradients and transitions through partial paint removal
• Enhances color vibrancy through the contrast of exposed and covered areas
• Allows for the creation of unexpected color harmonies and dissonances

Symbolism and interpretation

Unconscious expression

• Grattage taps into the artist's subconscious through its semi-automatic process
• Reveals hidden imagery and associations buried within the artist's psyche
• Encourages viewers to project their own unconscious interpretations onto the work
• Aligns with surrealist goals of accessing deeper levels of consciousness in art

Dream-like imagery

• Produces ambiguous forms and textures reminiscent of dream landscapes
• Creates juxtapositions of recognizable and abstract elements, mirroring dream logic
• Evokes a sense of the uncanny through familiar yet distorted visual elements
• Encourages free association and non-linear narrative interpretations

Psychological associations

• Triggers emotional responses through texture and color combinations
• Invites viewers to explore their own psychological reactions to abstract forms
• Reflects the artist's inner state and subconscious preoccupations
• Serves as a Rorschach-like test for both artist and viewer, revealing personal symbolism

Notable grattage artworks

Ernst's "The Entire City"

• Created in 1934, showcases Ernst's mastery of the grattage technique
• Depicts a fantastical cityscape emerging from a textured, dream-like background
• Combines architectural forms with organic, plant-like structures
• Exemplifies the surrealist fusion of reality and imagination through material manipulation

Other significant examples

• Óscar Domínguez's "The Infernal Machine" (1934) incorporates grattage with other surrealist techniques
• Hans Bellmer's "The Doll" series (1930s) uses grattage to create unsettling textures on photographed sculptures
• Roberto Matta's cosmic landscapes (1940s-1950s) employ grattage to suggest otherworldly terrains
• Contemporary artist Gerhard Richter's "Abstract Paintings" series utilizes grattage-inspired techniques

Grattage vs frottage

Similarities and differences

• Both techniques involve transferring textures from one surface to another
• Frottage uses rubbing to transfer texture, while grattage involves scraping away paint
• Grattage produces more varied and unpredictable results due to paint interactions
• Frottage typically results in more direct texture transfer and clearer patterns

Combined techniques

• Artists often use grattage and frottage together to create complex layered compositions
• Frottage can be used to create an initial texture, which is then enhanced through grattage
• Combining techniques allows for greater control over the final texture and imagery
• The interplay between rubbed and scraped textures creates rich, multidimensional surfaces

Impact on modern art

Influence on abstract expressionism

• Grattage's emphasis on material manipulation influenced abstract expressionist techniques
• Jackson Pollock's drip paintings share grattage's focus on chance and gestural mark-making
• Willem de Kooning incorporated scraping techniques in his abstract figurative works
• The technique's textural qualities inspired the development of art informel in Europe

Contemporary applications

• Contemporary painters continue to explore grattage in abstract and figurative works
• Digital artists simulate grattage effects in digital painting software
• Mixed media artists incorporate grattage with collage and other material-based techniques
• Grattage inspires experimental approaches in printmaking and textile arts

Critical reception

Initial reactions

• Early critics struggled to understand and appreciate grattage's unconventional aesthetics
• Some viewed the technique as a gimmick or a rejection of traditional artistic skill
• Surrealist supporters championed grattage as a revolutionary approach to image-making
• Art historians debated the technique's place within the broader context of modernism

Evolution of appreciation

• Over time, grattage gained recognition as a significant contribution to 20th-century art
• Museums and collectors began acquiring and exhibiting grattage works more frequently
• Art educators incorporated grattage into curricula as a way to teach material exploration
• Contemporary critics analyze grattage in the context of process-based and conceptual art

Grattage in surrealist theory

Automatism and chance

• Grattage aligns with surrealist concepts of psychic automatism and unconscious creation
• The technique embraces chance occurrences and unexpected results in the artistic process
• Surrealists viewed grattage as a way to bypass conscious control and access pure creativity
• The unpredictable nature of grattage results reflects surrealism's interest in the irrational

Subversion of traditional techniques

• Grattage challenges conventional notions of artistic skill and control
• The technique rejects traditional brush-based painting in favor of material manipulation
• Surrealists used grattage to critique academic art traditions and bourgeois taste
• Grattage exemplifies surrealism's goal of revolutionizing artistic production and perception

Preservation and conservation

Challenges in maintaining grattage works

• Textured surfaces are prone to accumulating dust and debris over time
• Paint layers may become brittle or flake off due to the scraping process
• Uneven surfaces can be difficult to clean without damaging the artwork
• Environmental factors (humidity, temperature) can affect the stability of grattage works

Restoration techniques

• Conservators use specialized cleaning methods to preserve delicate grattage textures
• Consolidation techniques help stabilize loose paint fragments and prevent further loss
• Custom storage and display solutions protect grattage works from physical damage
• Digital documentation and 3D scanning aid in preserving the textural qualities of grattage art