Frottage History

Frottage, derived from the French word frotter, meaning “to rub,” has both an artistic and sexual connotation. In the realm of art, the term became popular in the 1920s when surrealist artist Max Ernst used the technique to create textured, dream-like works by rubbing pencil or other materials over uneven surfaces. However, in a sexual context, frottage refers to rubbing against another person for sexual pleasure, often in a clothed or semi-clothed state. Historically, frottage has been a discreet form of sexual expression, especially in crowded public spaces where people would brush against one another, sometimes intentionally for arousal.

In the mid-20th century, when homosexuality was still widely criminalized, frottage allowed men to explore their desires in public or semi-public places without risking the more obvious signs of intimacy. Its appeal lies in the tactile connection and slow, gradual build-up of pleasure through friction, often leading to heightened sexual tension. In modern times, frottage remains an intimate and sensual act for many people, offering a form of connection that is less about penetration and more about mutual pleasure through touch and closeness. It serves as a reminder of how varied and nuanced physical intimacy can be, celebrating a form of eroticism rooted in proximity, friction, and the electric sensations of the body in contact.