Linoleumista

Linoleumista is a term formed from linoleum and the Italian suffix -ista, used to describe a person associated with linoleum materials or processes. Depending on context, it can refer to a tradesperson who installs and maintains linoleum flooring, or to an artist who works with linoleum in relief printmaking (linocut). In English, the corresponding terms are typically linoleum installer or linocut artist, while the Italian term is not widely used in English-speaking contexts.

In the flooring context, a linoleumista is a professional who measures, cuts, fits, and finishes linoleum sheets or tiles. The work often involves preparing subfloors, selecting and applying adhesives, ensuring seams are tight, matching patterns, and trimming edges for a clean finish. Safety and knowledge of moisture, room layout, and traffic patterns are important. Typical tools include a sharp cutter or linoleum knife, straightedge, roller, adhesive spreader, seam roller, and kneepads.

In the arts context, a linoleumista is a printmaker who carves a design into a linoleum block, applies ink with a brayer, and transfers the image to paper or fabric to produce multiples. Techniques vary with gouges of different shapes, inking methods, and printing processes, including hand printing and press setups. The practice, known as linocut, gained prominence in the 20th century among European and American artists and remains a common method for producing relief prints.

Usage of the term varies by region and discipline. In Italian, linoleumista can refer to either role, while English usage generally specifies linoleum installer or linocut artist to avoid ambiguity.