serigraafia

Serigrafia, also known as serigraphy or screen printing, is a printmaking technique in which ink is transferred to a substrate through a mesh screen that has been treated with a stencil to block areas that should not be printed. The image areas allow ink to pass through the screen onto the substrate, which is typically paper, fabric, or other flat surfaces.

The method has roots in Asia, where early forms of screen-based printing existed for decorative and commercial purposes. It gained significant use in Europe and the United States in the 20th century, evolving from a commercial reproducing process to a respected fine-art technique. The term serigraphy was popularized to emphasize its artistic applications beyond mass production.

Process and materials: A stencil is prepared on a screen, either by applying emulsion and exposing it to light or by hand-cut methods. The screen is then stretched over a frame and aligned with the substrate (registration). Ink is applied to the screen and forced across the mesh with a squeegee, passing through open areas to form the image. After printing, the ink is cured or air-dried. Common substrates include paper and fabric, but serigraphy can be used on metal, glass, wood, and other surfaces. Inks can be water-based or plastisol, and the choice of mesh count, frame size, and ink type affects color opacity and detail.

Applications and characteristics: Serigraphy is widely used for fine-art prints, posters, textiles, and branding. It supports bold colors, thick ink layers, and large formats, while offering good color consistency over multiple copies. Limitations include the need for precise registration for multi-color works and potential difficulty achieving ultra-fine detail on very delicate meshes.

Notable practitioners: The technique played a key role in the work of artists such as Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, and Keith Haring, among others, contributing to its prominence in contemporary art.