The process of creating a dull, non-reflective surface finish, or the border material used to frame and present artwork, providing visual separation between the art and frame.
From French mat, meaning 'dull' or 'matte,' from Arabic māt meaning 'dead' or 'defeated.' The term developed two art meanings: surface finish and framing material, both emphasizing the non-reflective quality.
Matting revolutionized how we experience art by solving the 'floating' problem—without that neutral border, artwork can appear to vibrate against frames or walls! The standard museum practice of using off-white or cream matting emerged because pure white creates too harsh a contrast, while colored mats can shift our perception of the artwork's colors.
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