A white paint mixture consisting of chalk, gypsum, or similar materials mixed with glue, used as a primer to prepare canvas or wood surfaces for painting. It creates a smooth, absorbent surface that helps paint adhere properly.
From Italian meaning 'gypsum' or 'chalk,' derived from Latin 'gypsum.' Traditional gesso was made from rabbit skin glue and chalk or gypsum, though modern acrylic versions are now common for contemporary artists.
Gesso is the unsung hero of every great painting - it's the foundation that makes everything else possible! Renaissance masters were so particular about their gesso recipes that they guarded them as trade secrets, and today's conservators can sometimes identify a painting's origin just by analyzing the gesso layer.
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