Frottage is a technique used in art where a piece of paper is placed over a textured surface, and then rubbed with a pencil or other drawing tool to create a pattern or image based on the texture of the surface. The word “frottage” comes from the French word “frotter”, which means “to rub”. The technique was developed by the surrealist artist Max Ernst in the early 20th century, and has since been used by many other artists. Frottage can create a variety of interesting and unexpected patterns and textures, and can be used in both representational and abstract art. It is often used in combination with other techniques, such as collage or painting, to create complex and layered works of art.