A Look Into The Most Popular Art Print Styles: How Many Types Exist?

The art landscape is home to multiple types of art, and art print is among them. Art prints became popular a long time ago, inspired by many artistic movements, from contemporary to impressionism. An art print is a reproduction of an original artwork, and they are usually more accessible and affordable than other art types. The history of art prints begins in China in the 1st century AD.

First, China used it to print the cloth, and then art printing made its way into Europe and other parts of the world. Art printing was also used for furniture or as a decorative art piece to hang on the walls. There are several types of art print, created using acrylic, canvas, metal or giclée, which can all meet a specific need. Each type of art print has unique texture, durability, and color richness, so it is important to look at the variety of art prints to decide which one is the best for you.

In this article, we will explore popular art print styles. Keep reading to learn more.

Woodcut

Woodcut is a popular printmaking process in which artists carve an image into the surface of a wood block, resulting in a print. This is one of the oldest printmaking techniques, first used in the Han Dynasty of China. The tools needed in woodcut printmaking are gauges or knives to use them on wood. The art print receives ink, and then the artist applies a piece of paper to the surface, transferring the image to the page.

One of the best characteristics of this type of printing is the fact that the woodcut print has a wood-grind texture that makes it stand out from the other art print types. A very popular artist who used woodcut art printing is Hokusai. This Japanese artist's artworks include the "floating world" prints with a large variety of subjects, including women, wrestlers, flours, mountains, and so on.

Woodcut is one of the first forms of art printing that inspired all the other types. Now, if you want to buy art prints online, you have a large variety from which to choose something that matches your preferences and desires the most.

Etching

Etching is another printmaking technique that can create innovative art pieces. In this process, artists use corrosive chemicals, like acid, to design marks into a metal plate. First, creators use wax, which covers the metal plate so that they can scratch the image into it.

This plate is washed then with acid, which creates special groves. After this step, the plate receives ink, is placed into a press that is then transferred to a page. In this way, a printed image using etching is created. Rembrandt is a popular artist who has used etching art printmaking.

Linocuts

Compared with the types of art printmaking styles mentioned above, linocuts use methods and techniques similar to woodcuts. However, instead of wood, linoleum takes a central position in this art printmaking. Of course, you might say that linoleum is used for wallpaper and flooring, so what exactly is its place in art? Frederick Walton was the first artist to use linoleum in art printing in the mid-1800s, and then this artmaking started to be popular and used by more artists worldwide.

The benefit of linoleum is the fact that it has a smooth feel, and art won't have a directional grain. Linocuts can be a better solution for beginner artists, as the surface is softer than wood, and because of this, carving is easier and more accessible.

Lithography

Lithography is an interesting planographic printing process that was inspired by the immiscibility of water and oil. This type of art printmaking was developed by Alois Senefelder, a German actor and author, in 1786. At first, this method was used for maps and musical scores, but now lithography is widely employed to print images onto paper, and artists are using it to create fine art prints.

In this type of art printmaking, the image is created with the help of a grease substance, which can be fat, oil, or wax, on the surface of a limestone plate. The plate is then treated with gum Arabic and weak acid. After this, artists apply an oil-based ink that creates an original drawing after it is transferred to a sheet of paper.

Screen printing

China is the country that first used screen printing. This technique took a center position in the pop art landscape when Andy Warhol employed it the most. Screen printing is a very popular method for adding patterns and colors to different fabrics and wallpaper. This type of printing was then used for commercial purposes by many advertisers, who started creating screen-printing images for different campaigns.

This method doesn't imply a block of plate; instead, it uses stencils and a mesh screen. Screen printing images are made of a self-adhesive plastic film that is then moved to a piece of paper.

Giclée printing

Giclée printing is a modern print style introduced first by Jack Duganne in the 1990s. This technique offers the advantages of accessibility, high resolution, and quality. In giclée printing, art is created with microscopic dots of ink and archival paper. Contemporary artists prefer this type of print.

Giclée prints can last over 100 years without fading so that owners can preserve the artwork. So, giclée printing is the go-to answer if you are looking for artwork with great attention to detail and accuracy.

Wrapping up

As you can see, there are many popular art styles, and what you choose depends on your personal preferences. Art prints are amazing pieces of art that will surely improve the look of any home.

Which one of these art printing techniques has captured your attention the most?