Serigrafian

A serigrafian is a person who practices serigraphy, or silk screen printing. It refers to artists and technicians who create prints using a screen with a stencil, through which ink is pushed onto a substrate such as paper or fabric. The term derives from serigraphy, the method’s English designation; in Spanish, serigrafía is the term for silk screen printing.

Techniques: A serigrafian designs a motif, prepares a screen by applying a stencil or photochemical emulsion, and uses a squeegee to force ink through the open areas of the mesh while blocked areas prevent ink. Color prints are produced by multiple screens, each carrying one color, aligned by registration marks. In editions, standards such as limited runs, proofs, and color management apply. The process emphasizes manual technique and precise registration, though digital workflows increasingly support design and preparation.

History: Modern serigraphy developed in the 20th century as artists adopted the method for fine art reproduction and experimentation. It gained prominence in the 1960s with the rise of Pop Art, where artists used silkscreen to reproduce imagery with bold color and reproducibility. Over time, serigraphy has been adopted across fine art, commercial printing, textiles, and signage, evolving through improvements in emulsions, inks, and multi-color registration.

Notable serigrafians: Artists associated with the technique include Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, and contemporary practitioners such as Shepard Fairey, among others. The role of a serigrafian encompasses both creative design and technical execution, reflecting the interplay of art and print technology.