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The new stone age
Engraving, etching and woodcut techniques date from many centuries ago,
but it wasn't until the turn of the 19th century that Alois
Senefelder discovered that images could be created by drawing on a slab
of limestone with a grease crayon. He found that when the surface of
the stone is treated chemically, only the areas that are drawn with a
grease crayon will attract printing ink. When the stone is inked,
covered with a piece of damp paper, and run through a printing press,
the drawing transfers exactly to the paper. In its relatively short
life, lithography has become not only the primary choice of commercial
printers, but also a fine art medium of infinite possibilities. It is
particularly suited to printing images in colors.
Etched in stone
Because lithography does not involve any carved lines that are subject
to wear and tear, the original image will maintain its integrity and
will not wear away even after being printed hundreds of times. However,
lithography as a fine art demands that the artist recreate the process
in exacting detail to maintain consistency with the original image.
Experienced artists often limit their lithograph editions to ensure
that each print receives the benefit of their full attention.
Here are several lithographs available from NextMonet. Click on an
image to learn more about the individual artwork.
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| Richard Ryan |
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Robert Stackhouse |
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Ed Paschke |
Select any of the printmaking techniques listed here in order of
historical development to learn more about it:
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