Chinese painting Mounting

Marouflage 裱糊 biǎohú is a technique which consists of gluing a work of art onto a support. In Chinese painting and calligraphy, marouflage is used to mount the work on a silk scroll: this is the famous Kakemono (a Japanese word). But marouflage is also very important for fixing the pigments. The painted sheet of rice paper is glued onto another sheet of paper. The colors stand out better and the work becomes more rigid and resistant to humidity. It is thanks to marouflage that Chinese paintings and calligraphy have survived through the centuries. Therefore, a Chinese painting or calligraphy can be marouflaged twice: first (required) onto another sheet of paper to fix the pigments and reinforce the work, and a second time to mount the work on a scroll (optional if using a frame). In this article, we show how to marouflage a Chinese painting or calligraphy onto another sheet of paper. Without this step, the work would be incomplete.

Required Materials

- A flat, smooth, flawless (very important), waterproof surface, such as a table.

- Two flat brushes: one large, the other medium-sized.

- A sheet of absorbent paper (宣纸 Xuānzhǐ) the same size as the painting to be marouflaged.

- A sheet of non-absorbent paper (熟宣 Shúxuān) slightly larger than the painting to be marouflaged (for Gongbi paintings).

Or

- A second sheet of absorbent paper (宣纸 Xuānzhǐ) slightly larger than the painting to be marouflaged (for Xieyi paintings).

- Perfax glue or homemade glue (which we recommend) following the method below:

Glue

Ingredients:

- White flour: 250 g.
- Alum (available cheaply at pharmacies): 5 g.
- Clean water: 700 ml.

Preparing the glue:

Put 250 g of flour and 5 g of alum in a container. Slowly add lukewarm water, stirring the mixture until you get a viscous paste. Then slowly pour in boiling water while stirring until you obtain a translucent, elastic paste. Your glue is now ready!

Marouflage Techniques

For 工笔 Gōngbǐ paintings

1. Place the sheet of absorbent paper (宣纸 Xuānzhǐ) on the flat surface.
2. Apply glue vertically and horizontally with the medium-sized flat brush.
3. Place your painting, painted side up.
4. Place the sheet of non-absorbent paper (熟宣 Shúxuān) on the painted side of your painting.
5. Use the large brush to flatten the sheet so that there are no bubbles.
6. Then turn the set over and continue flattening with the large brush.
7. Wait for it to dry, then remove the sheet of non-absorbent paper (熟宣 Shúxuān).
8. Your painting is now ready to be framed or mounted on scrolls.

For 写意 Xiěyì paintings

1. Place the painting face down on the flat surface.
2. With the medium-sized flat brush, apply glue by lifting the painting and gently laying it back down as you brush across.
3. Place the first sheet of absorbent paper (宣纸 Xuānzhǐ) in the same way.
4. Then turn over the painting.
5. Place the second sheet of absorbent paper (宣纸 Xuānzhǐ) on the painted side of your painting and flatten with the large brush.
6. Wait until it is dry, then remove the absorbent paper (宣纸 Xuānzhǐ).
7. Your painting is now ready to be framed or mounted on scrolls.

Marouflage in Pictures

Step 1

Apply the glue

Step 2

Wipe the table around the sheet.

Step 3

Place the painting with a dry brush.

Step 4

Even out by protecting the painting with a dry sheet of paper.