HISTORY OF PRINTMAKING

Printmaking- is the process making of making a variety of artwork by using the method of printing, normally on paper, but also sometimes on such materials and objects as wood, lino and metal depending on the printing style. Printmaking normally covers the quality and originality of creating the prints, rather than just having a photographic reproduction of a painting.

105 AD – is cited as the year in which papermaking was invented in china.

Woodcut print

1380- Woodcut Printmaking, a relief printing plate made by carving marks in blocks of long grained planks or plywood. Long-grain refers to the grain following the direction of growth. For example, parallel to the tree trunk/ branch the piece of wood was cut from.

engraved print

1420-30- Printed Engraving is a method where metal plates begin to replace the use of carved wooden printing blocks for the reproduction of works of art. A plate of soft metal is used, most often copper, and the design engraved (cut into) into the surface using a tool called a “burin” which is a square tool-steel rod, sharpened diagonally at one end so that the prominent corner becomes an effective controllable cutting edge.

LetterPress print

1440-50- Letterpress Printmaking is a technique of relief printing using a printing press. A worker composes and locks movable type into the bed of the press, inks it, and presses paper against it to transfer the ink from the type. Which creates an impression on the paper. 

Etching print

1513- Etching is a traditional process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio (relief) in the metal. 

lithography print

1796-8 – Lithography originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water. Printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or metal plate with a smooth surface. 

Photogravure print

1852- Photogravure is intaglio printmaking or photo-mechanical process whereby a copper plate is coated with light- sensitive gelation tissue which had been exposed to a film positive, and then etched, resulting in a highly quality intaglio print that can reproduce the detail and continuous tones of a photography.