taidegrafiikka

Taidegrafiikka, or graphic art/printmaking, is a field of visual art that uses a matrix to create multiple original images on paper. The artist designs an image on a surface such as a woodblock, copper or metal plate, lithographic stone or a silk screen, applies ink, and transfers it to paper. Each printing is part of an edition, typically signed and numbered, and the matrix can yield many impressions.

The main families of techniques are grouped as relief, intaglio, lithography and serigraphy. Relief processes include woodcut and linocut, where ink remains on the raised surface. Intaglio processes involve incising or etching a design into a metal plate, with ink held in the grooves (examples include etching, engraving, aquatint and mezzotint). Lithography relies on the chemical difference between oil and water on a flat surface, while serigraphy (screen printing) uses a mesh stencil to apply ink. Additions such as collagraph, monotype and color printing expand the range. In contemporary practice, artists often combine techniques and integrate digital tools while preserving the role of the manual matrix.

Historically, taidegrafiikka developed in Europe during the Renaissance with woodcuts and early intaglio, and gained new possibilities with lithography in the 18th and 19th centuries. It remains a central method for producing artist editions, studying techniques, and exploring the relationship between image, surface, and color. In Finland and elsewhere, taidegrafiikka programs, studios and galleries support education, preservation, and the sale of original prints and editions.