Leinwand

Leinwand is a German term with two principal senses: a painting canvas and a projection screen. In art, a Leinwand is a sturdy, woven fabric surface used for painting, traditionally made from linen and increasingly from cotton or blends. The fabric is stretched over a wooden or metal stretcher and fixed with tacks or staples. Before painting, the surface is prepared with sizing and a primer, most commonly gesso, to create a uniform ground, control absorbency, and prevent the paint from contacting the raw fibers. Linen offers high tensile strength and dimensional stability, while cotton is cheaper and widely used for contemporary works. The choice of material, priming, and tension influence the texture, absorbency, and longevity of a painting. Canvases may be primed with one or several layers of ground and can be either gallery-wrapped or mounted with a frame to resist sagging.

In modern German usage, Leinwand also denotes a projection screen used in cinemas, classrooms, and home theatres. Projection surfaces are designed to reflect light from projectors; common varieties include matte white screens for general use, high-gain screens for brighter rooms, and ambient light rejecting surfaces for environments with substantial lighting. Screens can be fixed, portable, or perforated for ventilation or optical effects, and may be rigid or fabric-based. With digital projection, screen selections consider brightness, contrast, viewing angle, and screen geometry.

Conservation and care: store canvases in stable humidity and temperature, avoid direct sun, handle carefully, and consult professional restorers for damage. The Leinwand remains a central surface for both traditional painting and modern display media.