Term: Craquelure

A distinctive pattern of hairline cracks that appear in the surface of a painting as it ages (sometimes referred to as crazing). The cracks can cover the whole painting or just portions of the image. Craquelure patterns differs depending on type of support, ground and paint used. For example, on wood supports the craquelure pattern will follow the grain of the wood. The cracks are caused primarily by the shrinkage of aging paint, varnish, or ground.