Grattage

Grattage

Grattage is a surrealist painting technique that involves using a sharp blade to 'scratch' or scrape fresh paint.

Grattage is a surrealist painting technique that involves 'scratching' fresh paint with a sharp blade. This technique aims to scrape and remove the coloured pigment applied to a prepared surface, creating a dynamic and textured effect.


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Parra's studio, with Parra at the centre, his back to the camera as he works on the large painting takes centre stage, showing a faceless blue woman in a striped dress, painted in red, purple, blue and teal. The studio is full of brightly coloured paints, with a large window on the right and a patterned rug across the floor under the painting.