Free Essay Example: Printmaking

Printmaking refers to a type of art that creates multiple pieces of a single piece of art. The technique usually makes use of paint or ink to make a design on various surfaces such as cloth or paper. The four categories of printmaking are intaglio, relief, planographic, and stencil. In relief printmaking, the areas that are not to be painted are cut away from metal, smooth wood, or plastic surface. The remaining raised portions are then inked, and the print is finally taken. Techniques under this category include woodcut, linocut, and wood engraving. On the contrary, intaglio printmaking involves carving the design in a way that enables it to hold ink. Grooves are incised on a surface, and then ink is introduced to the depressions. A soft and dampened paper is then used to take the ink from the depressions. Intaglio processes that use a sharp instrument to make the incisions include drypoint, engraving, and mezzotint (Wolfe). Those that use acid include etching, soft ground, and aquatint. In planographic printmaking, the intended design is printed or carved out of a flat surface. The techniques used in this category include pen and ink effects, washes, textural transfers, and crayon techniques. Finally, in stencil printmaking, the design is cut out of very thin material. The design is then printed by spraying or rubbing paint around the areas that have been cut out. Printmaking aims to transfer an image from a matrix onto a different surface, usually fabric or paper.

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Printmaking is believed to have originated in Asia. Katsushika Hokusai is an example of a traditional printmaker from the 18th century. Ukiyo-e woodblock prints were his specialty and helped make his works known throughout the world. Under the Wave of Kanagawa is one of his most famous works (Wolfe). Inspired by Dutch and French engravings, he incorporated elements of shade, color, and perspective into his works (Christie's). Woodcutting and engraving were integral elements of traditional printmaking. Centuries later, other artists such as Andy Warhol embraced a new form of printmaking called screen printing. He was among the first artists to legitimize and make the use of screenprint, which had been used for centuries, mainstream. Using the technique, a stencil is placed upon a medium to create an image. Ink is applied through the stencil. Warhol used this technique to champion the industrialization of art. The use of various mediums allowed him to produce more colorful pieces as compared to Hokusai's, as seen in Moonwalk.

Modern Era Art

The styles and approaches of art have significantly evolved over the years. In their quest to break away from the traditional perception of the purpose of art, the Modern era artists revolutionized painting techniques. For instance, the use of a paintbrush was avoided, and there a move towards avant-garde ideas was witnessed. Traditional artists believed in reproducing reality to the highest possible likeness. On the contrary, Modern artists preferred experimentation, use of the artist's whole body and industrial tools in the place of brush, as well as the incorporation of various materials and objects into their work. The main objective of Modern artists is to portray a subject according to the individual's unique perspective. In general, modern art represents an ever-evolving set of ideas among artists, who individually and collectively seek to create new ways of making art. While Modern art is believed to have emerged around 1850 when Realism started, a drastic evolution of styles and approaches was witnessed in the 20th century. Modern artists were also significantly influenced by the eras before them. For instance, Romanticism involved the depiction of landscape, not necessarily as it appears in reality, but according to how the creator saw and felt. As such, this movement helped to create a unique and innovative perspective seen in the Modern era art. Artists in each of the new styles sought to create a visual language that was representative and original. As technology grew, artists found newer and more innovative ways of representing the world. Resultantly, art took alternative forms, new colors and emotional expressions, and experiments in abstraction rose.

Gustave Coubert was among the first Modern artists. He started developing his own style from as early as the mid-19th century. In Burial at Ornans, he depicted the funeral of a commoner (MutualArt). At the time, only historical scenes and classical myths were the dominant subjects in art. His departure from the traditional way, therefore, was seen as an insult to French art. Though he was ostracized for the work, he would go ahead to become one of the greatest influences to the Modern artists of the subsequent generations (The MET). His experimentation and exploration would continue throughout his career. For instance, he would use a palette knife to make marks in some of his future works, a technique that had not been used before. Black Iris III, by Georgia O'Keeffe, who is considered to be the mother of American Modernism, is also a famous piece from this period (The MET). The painting challenged the existing boundaries of style by combining representation and abstraction. The abstraction is seen in the dramatically large flower depicted in the painting.

Works Cited

Christie's. "Hokusai's prints - as you've never seen them before." 6 April 2018. Christie's. 7 May 2020. <https://www.christies.com/features/Step-inside-Hokusais-ukiyo-e-prints-9118-3.aspx>.

MFA. "Andy Warhol, Moonwalk, 1987, Screen Print (S)." 2020. MFA. 7 May 2020. <https://www.masterworksfineart.com/artists/andy-warhol/screen-print/moonwalk-1987/id/W-6439>.

MutualArt. "The Social Sublime: Decoding Courbet's Burial at Ornans." 6 October 2019. Medium. 7 May 2020. <https://medium.com/mutualart/the-social-sublime-decoding-courbets-burial-at-ornans-471b1ff0aa21>.

The MET. "Black Iris III." Metmuseum.org, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/489813.

The MET. "Gustave Courbet." 2020. The MET. 7 May 2020. <https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2008/gustave-courbet>.

Wolfe, Shira. "Agents of Change: How Printmaking Transformed Art." 2019. Artland. 7 May 2020. <https://magazine.artland.com/agents-of-change-printmaking-in-art/>.