Lithography – the centuries-old printing method – has never lost its magic touch. Invented in 1796 by a Bavarian author and actor Alois Senefelder, lithography has since become a staple in print art and design.
But what makes lithography so special, you may wonder? It’s all in the method itself.
Lithography relies on the principle that oil and water don’t mix. In a nutshell, the artist draws their image on a flat surface (usually stone) using a greasy material such as a lithographic pencil. Afterward, the surface is treated with water, which is then imbibed by the non-greasy areas of the image. On the other hand, the greasy parts – which have ink applied to them – repel water. The ink is then transferred to a sheet of paper using press, producing a faithful reproduction of the original image.
This allows artists to create fine-line details, wide tonal ranges, and subtle transparency that are hard to achieve with other printing methods like woodcut or engraving. Additionally, artists can play around with color tints, textures, and variations within the same design. It’s no wonder that artists like Toulouse-Latrec, Matisse, and Picasso all utilized lithography in their art.
But lithography did not only revolutionize the printing industry from an artistic standpoint. It was also the first method to enable mass production of images and texts, making it a boon for the advertising industry. Its commercial potential was harnessed mainly in the 19th and early 20th century, when commercial lithographs were being used to adorn billboards, product labels, and event posters.
However, lithography somewhat declined in popularity in the latter part of the 20th century, when digital printing methods emerged onto the scene. Nonetheless, today, its magical aura is still very much alive, with many contemporary artists utilizing lithography in their creative process.
Overall, lithography’s longevity confirms its value as a timeless art form that continues to inspire the print art movement today. Whether it’s through commercial applications, aesthetic appreciation, or technical experimentation, lithography offers endless possibilities for creativity and self-expression.
