Understanding Prints: The FairArt Guide

Everything You Need to Know About Prints

Fine art prints encompass a diverse array of printing methods, offering artists a different method to express their creative vision. These prints can range from high quality reproductions to traditional, intricate processes to bold, graphic styles. In this journey through the art of printmaking, we’ll explore some of the most widely-used print techniques.

What are the most common types of prints?

There are various types of printmaking techniques, each with its own distinctive process and characteristics. Continue reading to learn about some of the most common types of prints.

Relief Printmaking

Relief printmaking is a printmaking technique where the image is carved, etched, or built up on a block or surface, and ink is applied to the raised areas for printing. The inked surface is then pressed onto paper or another substrate, transferring the image. The key characteristic is that the image is in relief, meaning the areas that receive ink are raised above the non-printing areas. Relief techniques include woodcut, linocut, wood engraving, and lino etching.

What is a Woodcut print?

A woodcut print is a type of relief printing technique in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, leaving the raised areas to be inked and pressed onto paper or another surface. It is one of the oldest printmaking methods and has been used for centuries in various cultures around the world.

One of the most famous woodcut prints is The Great Wave off Kanagawa by the Japanese ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai. Depicting a powerful and iconic image of a large wave towering over three boats and Mount Fuji in the background, the print showcases Hokusai's mastery of composition, perspective, and the woodcut technique.

David Shrigley, Fucking Ace (2019). Linocut on paper, 56 x 76cm

What is a Linocut?

Linocut is a relief printmaking technique. The artist carves a design into a sheet of linoleum using gouges and cutting tools. The raised areas that remain uncarved are inked and then transferred to paper. Linocut prints typically have bold and graphic qualities. The medium allows for expressive lines and shapes, making it suitable for creating striking, simplified images.

Linocuts were a popular choice among the Expressionist artists of the time for their versatility and the ability to achieve bold, graphic effects. One of the most famous linocut prints is German expressionist artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s The Prophet, which is characterised by sharp angles and a raw emotional intensity.

Planographic

Planographic printmaking is a process where the image is printed from a flat surface without any carving or incising into the matrix. Instead of raised or incised areas holding ink, the ink adheres to specific areas of the flat surface due to the chemical properties of the materials used. The term 'planographic' comes from the Greek words 'planos,' meaning flat, and 'grapho,' meaning to write or draw. Lithographs and Monotypes are both forms of planographic printmaking.

Caroline Walker, Nocturnes - Early Evening, (2023). Lithograph on paper, 53 x 43cm. Courtesy of Enitharmon Editions

What is a Lithograph?

Lithography is a traditional printing technique where an image is created on a flat surface, often a stone or metal plate, using oil-based ink and chemical processes. The image is then transferred onto paper via a printing press, resulting in high-quality, detailed prints suitable for fine art reproduction. Lithographs are often produced in larger editions compared to giclée prints, which can make them more affordable but less exclusive.

Henri Toulouse-Lautrec was known for his lithographic posters, capturing the spirit of Parisian nightlife in the late 19th century. Moulin Rouge: La Goulue is one of his well-known lithographs, depicting the can-can dancer La Goulue.

What is a Monotype?

Monotype is a unique printmaking technique where an image is created on a smooth surface, such as glass or metal, and then transferred to paper. The image can be created using various media, including ink, paint, or even objects. Each print in a monotype series is unique. Monotypes are one-of-a-kind prints, and their characteristics can vary widely depending on the artist's creative process. They often have a painterly and spontaneous quality.

In The Cliffs at Étretat, Claude Monet used the monotype technique to convey the dramatic coastal landscape of Étretat in Normandy, France. The cliffs, sea, and sky are depicted with fluid and expressive brushstrokes, capturing the transient effects of light and the atmospheric conditions of the moment.

Stencil

Stencil printmaking is a process where a design or image is created by cutting or forming a stencil, which is then used to apply ink or paint onto a surface. The stencil acts as a barrier, allowing ink to pass through only the open areas, creating the desired image. Stencil printmaking is a versatile and accessible technique, often used in various art forms, from street art to fine art prints. Silkscreen prints are a type of stencil print.

Bridget Riley, New Day (1992). Screenprint in colours on wove paper. Courtesy of Tanya Baxter Contemporary and London Art Fair

What is a Silkscreen print?

Silkscreen printing, also known as serigraphy, involves creating a stencil on a mesh screen and forcing ink through it onto paper or fabric using a squeegee. Silkscreen prints typically have bold, vibrant colours and are well-suited for creating a flat, graphic look. They do not capture as many fine details as giclée or lithograph prints.

One of the most famous silkscreen prints is Marilyn Diptych by Andy Warhol. Created in 1962, this iconic work is both a masterpiece of the Pop Art movement and a representation of Warhol's fascination with celebrity culture.

For another deep dive on the printmaking process, check out our second Print Guide here.