Yiping Xu*

Hongik University

Abstract：

As one of the most expressive techniques in oil painting, the palette knife technique underwent profound transformations during the modern art movement of the 20th century. It evolved from figurative to abstract and from material accumulation to spiritual expression. This paper focuses on the knife technique as a core subject, exploring its multifaceted significance in material language, image construction, and cultural concepts. It analyzes the interaction between the artist’s body and materials through Merleau Ponty’s phenomenological perspective. By examining the visual tension of thick textures in Frank Auerbach’s works, it reveals the dialectical logic between deconstruction and reconstruction in knife technique application. Drawing inspiration from Eastern freehand brushwork philosophy, this study explores the possibility of achieving Sino-Western integration through knife techniques in contemporary oil painting contexts.

Key Words：

palette knife technique; contingency; materiality; deconstruction