Frottages

/froʊˈtɑʒɪz/ noun

Definition

Plural of frottage; the technique of placing paper over a textured surface and rubbing it with pencil or charcoal to reveal the pattern underneath; also rubbing or friction contact.

Etymology

From French 'frottage,' from 'frotter' (to rub), derived from Old French 'froter.' Borrowed into English as an art and technique term.

Kelly Says

Surrealist artist Max Ernst invented 'frottage' as an art technique in the 1920s—it became a major tool for exploring texture and the unconscious, showing how a simple rubbing technique can create profound artistic effects.

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