What is an Original Lithograph?
The word "lithograph" means, "stone print". Lithography works on the simple physical
principal that oil and water do not mix. Alois Senefelder of Bavaria invented this
technique around 1798. Senefelder also discovered the best lithographic stone in
the village of Solenhofen. This particular grade of carbonaceous limestone was of
the highest quality having a very even texture and just the right porosity and density
to receive grease and water with sufficient readiness. The method used in preparing
a stone for printing was first to cut the stone the required size, i.e. slightly
larger than the overall size of the art to be created and several inches thick.
The thickness was needed to prevent the stone from cracking under pressure. The
surface to be drawn upon was then very carefully ground with either sand or finely
ground glass until perfectly smooth. The image is drawn in reverse on the stone
with greasy crayons. When the drawing is completed, the stone is subjected to a
bath of gum arabic and nitric acid. The purpose of this is to prevent the grease
from spreading during the rolling necessary in applying the ink. The stone is then
washed to stop the action. Afterwards, the stone is dampened with water, which is
repelled by the greasy medium wherever the artist has drawn. Then the stone is inked
with a massive roller loaded with oily ink which adheres to the greasy areas of
the design, but is repelled by the wet areas of bare stone. The paper is then pressed
to the stone and the ink is transferred to the paper. In a color lithograph, a different
stone is used for each color. The stone must be re-inked every time the image is
pressed to the paper. Over the years, some artist have also used sheets of zinc
or aluminum, properly grained, have been used instead of stone. Most modern lithographs
are signed and numbered to establish an edition.
An offset lithograph, also known as a limited edition print, is a reproduction by
a mechanical process, in which the artist has in no way contributed to the process
of making an original print: that is, he has not designed the plate. Paintings,
drawings, watercolors are photo-mechanically reproduced. Very often the artist signs
a number of these "reproductions" but they are not true original lithographs.
Etching was perfected in Germany during the first quarter of the
16th Century. The design for an etching is created on a metal plate. The earliest
etchings were done on iron but after 1520 copper was the most common metal. Zinc
has gained in popularity in the last 100 years. The metal plate is covered with
an acid resisting ground (a combination of wax, mastic and asphaltum). The artist
draws through this ground with an etching needle. When the plate is exposed to acid
(nitric or other mordants) the areas where the ground has been removed through drawing
will be eaten away to create the design on the metal. The variation in the strength
of the line is controlled by the number of times that the artist places the plate
in the acid bath.
After the plate has been "bitten" , the artist applies a very thick ink over the
plate and then forces the ink into the lines. The surface ink is wiped off and a
damp piece of paper is laid onto the plate. The ink is forcibly transferred to the
paper by a special etching press. When the paper is removed from the plate, an original
etching can be seen. Another etching can be created, but the artist must ink the
plate each time. Most modern etchings are then signed and numbered to establish
an edition. While this process is fairly easy to describe it requires a high degree
of skill on the part of the artist.
Some of the most celebrated artists that worked in this medium are Rembrandt, Whistler
and Picasso.
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