Grattage

Grattage is a 20th-century painting technique closely associated with the Surrealist movement. The term derives from the French verb gratter, meaning “to scrape” or “to scratch,” and refers to a method in which paint applied to a surface is partially removed using pointed tools or everyday objects, revealing underlying textures or colors. The resulting surface exhibits abstract and unpredictable forms, where chance and artistic control interact to produce complex and original compositions.