Visual Arts

Question 1

What does printmaking allow an artist to do?

Answer 1

It allows the artist to produce multiple original copies of a single design.

Question 2

How is a print made?

Answer 2

A print is made from a plate, stone, or other object that’s covered with ink and then pressed onto a flat surface, like paper.

Question 3

What is each copy made from the same plate called?

Answer 3

Each copy is known as an impression.

Question 4

How is printmaking created?

Answer 4

Printmaking is created by transferring ink from a matrix (or prepared screen) onto a sheet of paper or another material.

Question 5

Where did printmaking originate and when did it reach Europe?

Answer 5

Printmaking originated in China and reached Europe around the 6th century.

Question 6

How was printmaking viewed at first and how did that change?

Answer 6

At first, it was not seen as a form of fine art, but by the 13th century, prints began to be viewed as original artworks.

Question 7

What change happened in the 19th century regarding prints?

Answer 7

Artists started producing limited editions of prints—each with technical information to authenticate the work.

Question 8

What are the four basic categories of printmaking?

Answer 8

Intaglio, Stencil, Relief, Planographic

Question 9

How does intaglio printing work?

Answer 9

It’s the opposite of relief printing — the ink is applied below the surface of the matrix.

Question 10

What are the techniques of intaglio printing?

Answer 10

Engraving, Mezzotint, Etching, Aquatint, and Drypoint.

Question 11

How is engraving done?

Answer 11

It’s done using a tool called a burin that’s pushed through the metal to carve the image.

Question 12

How do the lines change in engraving?

Answer 12

The deeper the burin is pushed, the wider the lines become.

Question 13

What happens to the raised metal that appears above the surface?

Answer 13

It’s scraped off.

Question 14

How is a print made from the engraved plate?

Answer 14

The engraved plate is inked all over, then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines.

Question 15

How is the ink transferred onto paper?

Answer 15

The plate is placed into a high-pressure printing press with a sheet of moistened paper, which softens it and allows the ink to transfer.

Question 16

How many impressions can be made before the plate wears down?

Answer 16

Several hundred impressions can be produced before the plate wears down.

Question 17

Where and when was engraving developed?

Answer 17

Engraving was developed in Germany in the 1430s.

Question 18

How did engraving develop from goldsmith techniques?

Answer 18

It came from the techniques used by goldsmiths to decorate metalwork.

Question 19

What is engraving known for?

Answer 19

It’s known for its steady, detailed appearance and clean edges.

Question 20

Who revived engraving in the 20th century?

Answer 20

Stanley William Hayter revived it as a serious art form.

Question 21

Who were some artists connected to Studio 17?

Answer 21

Artists including Pablo Picasso worked there.

Question 22

Name one famous artist who used engraving.

Answer 22

Albrecht Dürer.

Question 23

How does stencil printing work?

Answer 23

Stencil printing involves pressing ink or paint through a prepared screen.

Question 24

What methods are included in stencil printing?

Answer 24

Screen printing and Pochoir.

Question 25

What are other names for screen printing?

Answer 25

Silkscreen or serigraphy.

Question 26

Where did screen printing originate?

Answer 26

It originated in China.

Question 27

How does screen printing work?

Answer 27

It uses a fabric stencil stretched tightly across a rectangular frame. Ink is pushed through open areas of the mesh using a squeegee onto the surface below.

Question 28

What materials can the mesh be made from?

Answer 28

Silk, nylon, polyester, or stainless steel.

Question 29

Does screen printing need a printing press?

Answer 29

No — it’s stencil-based and doesn’t need a printing press.

Question 30

What is Pochoir?

Answer 30

A direct method of hand-coloring through a stencil.

Question 31

How is Pochoir done?

Answer 31

It often involves spray-painting or applying color around a three-dimensional object to create a shadow or outline effect.

Question 32

How does planographic printing work?

Answer 32

The matrix keeps its flat surface, but it’s specially prepared to allow the image to be transferred.

Question 33

What are the techniques of planographic printing?

Answer 33

Lithography, Monoprinting, and Digital printing.

Question 34

What is lithography based on?

Answer 34

It’s based on the idea that oil and water do not mix.

Question 35

How is the image area prepared in lithography?

Answer 35

The image areas are coated with a greasy substance that attracts ink.

Question 36

How are the non-image areas prepared?

Answer 36

The non-image areas are made ink-repellent.

Question 37

How is the ink applied and transferred?

Answer 37

Ink is rolled over the surface, sticking only to greasy areas, and paper is pressed onto the plate to create the print.

Question 38

What does “mono” mean in monoprinting?

Answer 38

It means one or singular.

Question 39

How is a monoprint made?

Answer 39

Only one print can be made, often with unique details that can’t be exactly reproduced.

Question 40

What makes monoprinting unique?

Answer 40

It’s spontaneous and expressive, allowing for mixed media approaches.

Question 41

How does relief printing work?

Answer 41

Ink is applied to the raised surface of a block or plate, not the recessed areas.

Question 42

How is the print made in relief printing?

Answer 42

When the inked surface is pressed against paper, the raised parts leave an impression, while the recessed parts stay ink-free.

Question 43

Does relief printing always need a press?

Answer 43

No — prints can also be made by hand-rubbing the back of the paper with a brayer.

Question 44

What are examples of relief printing processes?

Answer 44

Woodcut, Linocut, Metal cut, and Relief etching.