Karklærred

Karklærred is a term used in Norwegian art history to describe a traditional painting support consisting of a canvas stretched over a rigid frame, or kark, forming the backbone of the surface. The word combines kark, meaning frame or carcass, with lærred, the word for canvas. In practice, karklærred refers to a setup where the canvas is mounted on a stretcher and may be backed by an additional layer of board for stiffness.

Historically, karklærred was made from linen or cotton canvas prepared with gesso or size to create a suitable painting ground. The canvas was stretched and fixed to a wooden kark with tacks or nails, allowing even tension and resistance to warping. The framing and backing helped preserve the painting and provided a durable surface for further painting layers.

Karklærred played a significant role as a common painting support in Northern Europe from the 17th to the 19th centuries. It is frequently encountered in conservation studies of older works, where the frame, edge attachments, and backing give insights into the original technique and handling by the artist.

In modern practice, the explicit term karklærred is less common, as contemporary canvases are typically pre-stretched and mounted on standardized frames. However, the concept remains relevant in the restoration and historical analysis of paintings created with this traditional setup, where the frame-backed canvas is considered an integral part of the artwork’s formation and aging.

See also: lærred, stretcher frame, gesso.