# Grattage

> Hard scraping exposes lower colors, while irregular ridges and residual oil paint jointly shape the forms.

[Web page](https://aistylebook.com/image/grattage/)

## About this style

Hard tools scrape through wet paint, revealing underlying color between remaining deposits. Scratches, ridges and uneven planes build forms with a surface that feels repeatedly uncovered.

Grattage reveals underlying texture by scraping paint, allowing accidental marks to guide imagery.

Scraped wood-grain traces might suggest ridges that a few added marks develop into unfamiliar terrain.

### How the style changes different subjects

- **Portrait**: The figure emerges through scraped, pressed or irregular color marks, with pose anchoring softened features.

- **Landscape**: Terrain and plants merge into accidental textures as if discovered within the material.

- **Object**: Irregular marks interrupt exact surfaces, making silhouette and broad tones more important.

**Subjects**: Choose trees, rocks, clear portraits or simple still lifes with a readable shape anchoring the material variation.

### Grattage

Ernst scraped layered paint with hard-edged tools to expose underlying color and create surface textures, a method known as grattage.

## Visual keywords

hard scratches · undercolor · ridges · remaining oil paint · revealed layers · rough texture

## Names and related terms

Paint scraping · Scraped-layer painting

## Style examples

- [Portrait](https://img.aistylebook.com/reference-assets/20090-img_large.avif?v=3fef4b91921dc21e)

- [Landscape](https://img.aistylebook.com/reference-assets/20091-img_large.avif?v=5bcbb2b194e6e86a)

- [Object](https://img.aistylebook.com/object-assets/80090-large.avif?v=cad44d661fd99fd2)

## Reusable style prompt

```text
Transform the image into grattage painting. Layer oil colors of differing values, then scrape firmly along forms so lighter underlayers emerge between irregular ridges. Interweave broad scraper tracks with fine broken textures, organizing accidental grain into recognizable shapes. Follow the original warm-cool relationships with added earth tones. Build light and shade from exposed-ground ratios, scraping direction and variations in residual paint thickness.
```

## Photo creation and prompts

Photo generation requires an account and credits; the cost is shown before generation.

[Create with this style](https://aistylebook.com/photo.html?style=20090&lang=en#studio)

## Related styles

- [Encaustic](https://aistylebook.com/image/encaustic/): Both reveal layers through scraping, with more translucent warmth in encaustic.

- [Impasto](https://aistylebook.com/image/impasto/): Both show knife marks and paint thickness, while impasto emphasizes buildup.

- [Decalcomania Picture](https://aistylebook.com/image/decalcomania-picture/): Both use chance texture, while decalcomania creates branches by separating wet paint.

## References

- [MoMA: Max Ernst and grattage](https://www.moma.org/collection/works/79082)