Litografij

Litografij refers to lithographs, the prints produced by lithography, a printmaking method developed in the late 18th century. Lithography is a planographic process, meaning the printing surface is flat, not raised or recessed. It relies on the principle that grease and water repel each other: an image drawn with a greasy medium accepts ink while the remaining areas repel it when dampened.

The technique was invented by Alois Senefelder in 1798 in Bavaria as a cheap method for reproducing theatrical scripts. It quickly spread as an artistic medium, allowing painters to create original lithographs by drawing directly on limestone or, later, on metal plates. The stone or plate is treated so that the drawing attracts oil-based ink; the surface is kept damp so non-image areas reject ink and remain printing-ready.

There are several forms of lithography. Stone lithography uses a lithographic limestone surface; modern variants often employ metal plates or aluminum for durability. Offset lithography, developed in the 20th century, transfers an inked image from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to paper, enabling high-volume commercial printing. In art practice, artists typically produce limited editions on paper, sometimes applying hand-coloring or mixing techniques with other printmaking methods.

Materials commonly used include lithographic limestone, lithographic inks, rollers, solvents, and printing presses. Lithographs can range from finely detailed reproductions to expressive, painterly works. Today, lithography remains important in both fine art and commercial publishing, valued for its ability to render subtleties of line, shade, and texture. See also lithography and printmaking.