What is a Lithograph Print?

Lithograph prints can be two basic things. They can either be fine prints, which mean they were created by the artist in a limited edition that is typically less than 1,000 impressions. They can also be the type of mass-produced prints you find in poster shops. Artists who created many lithographic prints in their careers include Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Kathe Kollwitz, Hokusai and, of course, Andy Warhol who created multiple Marilyns as well as Elizabeth Taylors, Queen Elizabeths, Jackie Kennedys and others.

History

At the very end of the 18th century, Aloys Senefelder developed a unique process for creating multiples that required the use of heavy stones. People immediately began using lithography to produce text and images, though it was Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec who popularized lithography as an art form. Soon, other artists in Germany, Paris and beyond began exploring the possibilities of creating fine lithographic prints.

Types

Limited edition lithographic prints come in various types. Monochromatic prints are the most typical, because they require only one pressing. Color lithographs require using combinations of four basic ink colors and pressing the new ink shade onto the paper. Artists may also hand-draw or hand-color features on the lithographic print. There is also the original offset lithograph. In this process, an artist draws onto an offset plate that is then placed in an offset press. Thus, the artwork is created by hand but the impressions are created mechanically. Other lithographic prints include trial proofs or artist proofs, which are what the artist creates to determine if the image is ready to be printed.

Features

Limited edition lithographic prints often include an artist's signature, typically written in pencil, though it can also be done in ink. An artist may also use her initials or a "block" or symbol, to indicate authorship. Artists usually number their prints. A notation that says 7/50 indicates that the lithograph is the seventh in an edition of 50. The annotations "AP" or "TP" indicate artist proof or trial proof. The artist may also include a handwritten date and title, although this is less common. The numbering of prints is a key issue amongst artists, galleries and collectors. Typically, an artist destroys the lithographic plates and assorted materials used in the creation of the print upon completion of the edition.

Function

Creating a lithographic print requires an artist to think in reverse. This is because the process begins with drawing an image that is pressed against a chemically sensitized surface. The artist rolls ink across the stone and the ink adheres only to the image. The press applies enormous pressure, up to 2,000 pounds for every square inch, between the stone and the paper. In the traditional lithography technique, the paper is cranked through the press by hand.

Warning

Collectors of fine limited edition lithographic prints must be wary, because it can be challenging to determine a print's authenticity. Many reputable galleries maintain information about a particular print's provenance--its history of ownership--that can be shared with collectors. When determining whether a lithographic print has value as an investment, remember that some lithographs carry the same value as an original drawing while others are as unique as a rock poster.