What Is A Print?
Dictionary
definition of “ Print”
(1): a copy made by printing (2): a reproduction of
an original work of art (as a painting) made by a
photomechanical process (3): an original work of art
(as a woodcut (block print), etching, silkscreen (serigraphy)
or lithograph) intended for graphic reproduction and
produced by the artist who designed it.
Not to confuse
anyone more than necessary, it’s seems that
the “definition” of prints covers just
about any technique for putting an image on paper
or canvas. Giclees, offset lithos, laser prints
and amazingly, xerox copies have been portrayed as
“original” prints. They are not. They
can be called “prints” although reproductions
would truly be more appropriate. There is nothing
“wrong” with most of these “prints”
although quality does vary widely. The buyer needs
to be aware of what they are purchasing. I’ve
included basic definitions of the main printing techniques
below. Hope it helps to clarify methods.
“Original”
Printmaking is truly an exciting process and I’d
encourage anyone interested in starting a collection
of art to educate themselves on this affordable and
fascinating art medium
What Is An Original
Print?
IT IS A WORK
OF ART…
An original
print is a work of art. The image is normally imprinted
on paper, but other material can also be used. The
print is created by an artist using a special medium
- aquatint, etching, lithography, mezzotint, screenprinting,
or another graphic technique as well as mixed media:
to produce effects that could not be achieved in any
other way. These are images that are produced to be
multiples. They are most often done completely by
the artist, and are most often done in small runs,
or editions. Traditionally, this was because
the image started to deteriorate after a certain numbers
of "prints" are produced. The lithography
stones wore down, the ink started to clog the recesses
of the etching, or the screen, and the wood cut wore
down. Print number 1 would be very different from
print number 100. The other reason that some print
runs are small is that the artist actually becomes
physically tired from the printing process (unlike
machine produced "reproductions"). Each
print of a limited edition is numbered and signed
in pencil by the artist. When the edition is complete,
the plates or screens are cancelled to ensure the
integrity and limitation of the print run. The first
print of an edition of, for example, 75 prints, is
numbered 1/75; the last print 75/75. Each print of
an edition has in principle the same value. An artist
may make a few additional prints for his friends,
“artist´s proof” (A.P.) or “epreuve
d´artiste” (E.A.). They are normally numbered
in Roman letters (e.g. as III/X rather than 3/10).
The number of prints in an edition are generally small.
I generally have editions of 20 or less.
aquatint
An intaglio, etching, and tonal printing process
in which a porous ground allows acid to penetrate
to form a network of small dots in the plate, as well
as the prints made by this process. Aquatints often
resemble wash drawings. Any pure whites are stopped
out entirely before etching begins, then the palest
tints are bitten and stopped out, and so on as in
etching. This process is repeated 20 to 30 times until
the darkest tones (deepest recesses in the plate)
are reached.
aquatint mezzotint
In etching, a plate
is first bitten in a solid aquatint, then a design
is worked on top of the aquatint with a scraper and
burnisher, producing a result similar to an ordinary
mezzotint.
etching
An intaglio printing process
in which an etching needle is used to draw into a
wax ground applied over a metal plate. The plate is
then submerged in a series of acid baths, each biting
into the metal surface only where unprotected by the
ground. The ground is removed, ink is forced into
the etched depressions, the unetched surfaces wiped,
and an impression is printed.
linoleum cut,
linocut, or lino-cut
A linoleum block or plate used for making relief
prints. Linoleum is a durable, washable material formerly
used more for flooring as vinyl flooring is used today.
The linoleum can be cut in much the same way woodcuts
are produced, however its surface is softer and without
grain. Linoleum cuts have been made by Henri
Matisse (French, 1869-1954) and Pablo Picasso (Spanish,
1881-1973).
lithography
In the graphic arts, a method of printing from a
prepared flat stone or metal or plastic plate, invented
in the late eighteenth century. A drawing is made
on the stone or plate with a greasy crayon or tusche,
and then washed with water. When ink is applied it
sticks to the greasy drawing but runs off (or is resisted
by) the wet surface allowing a print-- a lithograph--
to be made of the drawing. The artist, or other print
maker under the artist's supervision, then covers
the plate with a sheet of paper and runs both through
a press under light pressure. For color lithography
separate drawings are made for each color.
monotype
A one-of-a-kind print made by painting on a smooth
metal, glass, plexiglass or stone plate and then printing
on paper. The pressure of printing creates a texture
not possible when painting directly on paper. Not
to be confused with a monoprint.
monoprint
One of a series of prints in which each has some
differences of color, design, texture, etc. applied
to an underlying common image. Not to be confused
with a monotype.
Woodcut
- woodblock
Woodcuts belong to a family of printing methods
in which the non-printing areas are carved, cut or
etched away to make the design. Materials commonly
used as the printing block include wood, stone, linoleum,
metal and cardboard. The relief methods are considered
the earliest developed of all printmaking methods.
Woodcuts and other relief printing methods follow
the same basic principle. A block is prepared to print
a design on paper. Those areas that the printer wants
to print are in relief, higher than those areas that
will not print. The printer coats the block with ink
and a sheet of paper is pressed against it. When the
paper is lifted away, the cut design appears in ink
on the paper.
