lithographies

Lithographies refers to prints produced by the art and craft of lithography, a planographic printing process based on the principle that grease and water do not mix. In lithography, an image is drawn with a greasy substance on a flat surface, traditionally a limestone stone but also metal plates in modern practice. The non-image areas are treated to attract water; when ink is applied, only the greasy image areas accept the ink and are transferred to paper. The result is a reversibly mirrored impression that can be produced in varying editions.

The technique was developed in the late 18th century by Alois Senefelder in Bavaria as a cheaper alternative to copperplate etching. Early lithography used stone supports and hand printing, but the introduction of chemical processes and modern presses improved line quality and repeatability. In the 20th century, offset lithography revolutionized production printing: the image is transferred from a stone or metal plate to a rubber blanket and then to paper, allowing high-volume, consistent color reproduction.

Materials and formats vary. Stone lithography remains associated with original fine art prints, while metal plate lithography (using zinc or aluminum) expanded durability and line work. Color lithography often requires multiple stones or plates to separate color layers, sometimes with registration guides for alignment. Lithographies have been widely used for posters, book illustrations, and limited-edition fine art prints, with notable practitioners including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Alphonse Mucha, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Marc Chagall.

Conservation considerations include restriction of light exposure and handling to prevent ink fading, cracking, or stone or plate deterioration. Editions are typically numbered and signed, reflecting their status as reproducible originals rather than unique paintings.