Judging the Authenticity of Prints by The Masters:
by David Rudd Cycleback

Chapter 11 : Handmade Lithography

(c) cycleback 2003, 2005 all rights reserved

As lithography uses a flat printing plate, the resulting print lacks the distinct identification signs of relief (rim of ink) and intaglio (physically raised ink surface and plate mark). Even under the microscope, the ink on a lithograph lies flat and smooth on the printing surface. The lack of a distinct marking is what identifies it as planographic. Handmade lithography has been popular in both the fine and 1800s commercial arts. Artists including Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali have used the process. Today, photomechanical (not hand made) lithography is used to print everything from magazines and books to soup can labels and postcards. Lithography was invented in 1778 Germany. The processed is based on the principle that water and grease do not mix. On a suitable flat printing surface marks are made in a greasy medium. The surface is dampened with water, which settles only on the unmarked areas as it is repelled by the greasy drawing medium. Next, a roller covered with greasy printing ink is rolled over the surface. The ink now adheres only to the drawn marks, the water repelling it from the rest of the surface. Finally, the ink is transferred to a sheet of paper by running paper and the printing surface together through a special press. From the beginning European artists were intrigued with lithography, as they could draw and paint directly onto the printing plate. In the early 19th century lithography was usually monotone and not favored for commercial purposes. Stones were used as the printing surface, a cumbersome and expensive method. By the 1850's stones were replaced with metal plates-- first zinc, then copper in the 1890s. After the American Civil War mass production was possible, but it wasn't until after the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, where it received much exposure, that lithography flourished. Brilliantly colored lithography, nicknamed chromolithography, was popular with artists and the public. With color lithography, each color is made on a different plate. Each plate is pressed successively against the printing surface. If the plates are not lined up perfectly, the registration will be off, meaning that the different colors will not be lined up on the print. Hand made lithography is a versatile process that comes in a wide variety of styles. The following lists some of the significant styles. Often many of the styles were used together: Pen and ink: These resemble pen and ink drawings Chalk style or crayon style: This type of lithography resembles a chalk or crayon drawing. Even under the microscope, it looks like a chalk or crayon sketch. Mezzotint style: This creates a similar style to mezzotint, a form of intaglio printing. Spatter: The artist could splatter ink on the lithographic plate. Stipple: Stipple dots were used to create tone, such as to give shading to a person or tree. These could be made by hand or with a spiked roller. 1870s chalk-style lithograph Identifying Lithography As lithography is made with a flat printing plate, the ink will appear flat on the print. The ink lacks the signatures of prints made with a multi-level plate (The raised ink in intaglio and the hard rim around the ink in relief). The only exception is chromolithography which can have a rim around the ink, as seen under the microscope. This rim appears different. In relief, the dark rim of ink is created by the pressure of the relief printing plate, and the rim is hard and rigid. In chromolithography, the rim is created by the settling of the thin lithographic ink and does not appear as mechanical or rigid. Screen printing, a process invented about 1890, can resemble lithography. Screen print often has an imprint of the mesh which is used. While the screen printing ink lies flat on the printing surface, under the microscope it often appears more painted on almost like enamel. Realize that lithography has a wide variety of appearances and applications, and can both be manual and process. Most modern commercial printing is photomechanical lithography. In other words, if you see something simply described as 'a lithograph', it should not be automatically assumed that it is an original print.   cycleback.com................contents (c) david rudd cycleback, cycleback.com all rights reserved

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