Gesso is used to prepare the surface in painting. What is its role?

• A. It brightens the canvas with color pigment
• B. It primes the canvas to create a smooth surface
• C. It is a final glaze
• D. It is a pigment

Answer: (B)

Gesso's main job is to prepare the painting surface by priming it and creating a smooth, toothy ground for paint to grip. It seals the canvas, reduces absorbency, and evens out the texture so colors apply evenly and with better control. This preparation is essential because raw canvas is too porous and uneven, causing paint to soak in and look inconsistent. Gesso is not used to brighten the surface with color, nor is it a final glaze or a pigment; its purpose is purely to establish a stable, workable foundation. In practice, artists apply several thin coats and may sand lightly to achieve the desired smoothness, and they can tint the gesso if a colored ground is needed, but the core role remains priming for a better painting surface.