10. Decalcomania
Decalcomania is a surrealist painting technique that involves spreading paint on one surface, then pressing it onto another to transfer and reveal spontaneous, unpredictable patterns. Artists never fully control the resulting textures, making each work unique and often dreamlike.
Max Ernst famously used decalcomania to inspire fantastical landscapes and abstract forms, influencing generations of abstract and surrealist painters. The technique embodies a spirit of experimentation, embracing chance and accident as part of the creative process. To learn more about decalcomania and its impact on modern art, visit MoMA’s official page.