A lithographic print is a copy made by the process of lithography. In lithography, a drawing is made on a smooth stone or metal surface by a water-resisting medium such as oil crayon. When ink and water are applied to the surface, the water is repelled by the image, while the ink is absorbed. A paper is pressed against the inked surface to transfer the image.The process allows for higher volume print runs with more detailed images.
Origins
Lithography was invented by Johann Alois Senefelder just before the turn of the 19th century. The process was refined by Godefroy Engelmann in Paris a couple decades later, in time for French artists such as Delacroix to embrace the new printmaking technique.
Famous Ties
Artists who have used the technique include Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet, Degas and Odilon Redon.
Color Lithography
To accomplish color lithography, the artist must create a separate drawing for each color, and the paper pressed on each color separately to overprint it.
Offset Lithography
When a paper is laid atop the inked lithographic plate, a mirror image of the drawing is transferred. Offset printing transfers the image to another surface first, then to the paper, making a mirror of the mirror. In other words, a reproduction of the original.
Etymology
Lithograph comes from the Greek roots "lithos"--stone--and "graph"--write. The lithos part arises from limestone, which was the original material used in the process.
Limited Editions
Lithographic prints are typically issued in limited editions by artists, usually 1,000 prints or less. Each is usually numbered with a notation that lists the number of the print followed by the total of prints created, for example, 546 out of 750, or 546/750.
