Pulled, Scraped, and Scratched
Definition
This term refers to techniques in painting and sculpture where the surface is manipulated by pulling, scraping, or scratching to create texture, depth, and visual interest. These techniques are often used to add an element of spontaneity and physicality to the work, emphasizing the artist's hand and the materiality of the medium.
History
Techniques involving pulling, scraping, and scratching have been widely used in modern and contemporary art, particularly in movements like Abstract Expressionism and Art Informel. Artists like Gerhard Richter and Cy Twombly have employed these methods to create dynamic, textured surfaces that convey a sense of movement, energy, and emotion, often emphasizing the process of creation as much as the finished work.
Notable Examples
Gerhard Richter
Abstraktes Bild (809-4), 1994
Cy Twombly
Untitled (Bolsena), 1969
Key Artists & Movements
Key figures include Gerhard Richter, whose abstract paintings often involve the use of a squeegee to scrape and pull paint across the canvas, creating layered, textured surfaces, and Cy Twombly, known for his expressive, often chaotic mark-making that includes scratching and scribbling into the surface of his works, adding a raw, tactile quality.
Techniques & Materials
Techniques involve the physical manipulation of the surface of a painting or sculpture, using tools like palette knives, squeegees, or sharp objects to pull, scrape, or scratch the material. Artists may work with wet paint, plaster, or other malleable materials, allowing the process to guide the final appearance of the work. These techniques can create a sense of depth, texture, and movement, often adding a visceral, tactile dimension to the artwork. The emphasis on process and materiality is central to these methods, reflecting a broader interest in the physical and expressive possibilities of the medium.
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