Pronunciation: [fjˈuːmɪd͡ʒ] (IPA) 
The word "Fumage" is commonly spelled with the letters F, U, M, A, G, and E. Its pronunciation in IPA phonetic transcription is /fjuːmɑːʒ/. The letter combination of "age" is pronounced as /ɑːʒ/, which is a voiced phoneme. The letter "u" is pronounced as /juː/, and the letter "m" is pronounced as /m/. The word "Fumage" is a French term that refers to the practice of smoking food, typically cheese or meat, before consumption.
Fumage is a noun that refers to a technique or process in art where smoke or soot is used to create images or patterns on a surface, usually on paper or canvas. Derived from the French word "fumée" meaning "smoke," fumage is often associated with surrealist artists and is considered a form of automatic drawing.
The process of fumage involves exposing the surface to be worked on to the smoke or soot generated by burning various materials like candles or oil lamps. As the smoke rises, it leaves behind particles that settle on the surface, creating unique and intricate patterns. Artists can manipulate the smoke by using tools like brushes or stencils to guide its movement and control the resulting image.
Fumage allows for the creation of abstract and dreamlike images, often with dramatic and ethereal qualities. The organic and unpredictable nature of the technique adds an element of chance and spontaneity to the artistic process, resulting in visually compelling and often mysterious compositions. Fumage has been used by notable artists like Wolfgang Paalen and Yves Klein, who further experimented with incorporating color and other materials into the process.
Overall, fumage is a distinctive artistic technique that combines the transformative properties of smoke and soot to produce captivating and atmospheric images.
The etymology of the word "fumage" is derived from the French word "fumer", which means "to smoke". The suffix "-age" is added to indicate a process or action, so "fumage" refers to the act or process of smoking. In the context of art, fumage specifically refers to a technique where smoke is used to create patterns or images on a surface.
