A well supported canvas is integral to a painting’s survival. Unstretched or unsupported canvases are susceptible to absorption of atmospheric moisture and humidity which can cause severe distortion in plane. Stretched canvases are equally absorptive but the auxiliary support of a wooden stretcher or strainer will keep a canvas taut when attached properly, and that tension keeps the fluctuating forces from allowing the canvas too much movement and flex out of plane. When a canvas is allowed to distort, ripple, or crease, the bond between canvas, ground and paint layers become stressed and weakened and can result in cracking, flaking and loss of the paint.

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