Above: Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione "Theseus finding his father's arms" (1645) Monotype
Monoprinting is a form of printmaking that has lines or images that can only be made once, unlike most printmaking, which allows for multiple originals. There are many techniques of mono-printing. Examples of standard printmaking techniques which can be used to make monoprints include lithography, woodcut, and etching. In monoprinting, an artist creates a reusable template of the intended image. Templates may include stencils, metal plates and flat stones. This form of printing produces multiple prints from the same template.
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Monotyping involves the use of an impermanent image that degrades after just one print. Monoprints can be thought of as variations on a theme, with the theme resulting from some permanent features being found on the template – lines, textures – that persist from print to print. Variations are endless, but permanent features of the template will persist from one print to the next.
Mary Cassatt made pastel monoypes by running her drawings through a press. Often called a counter proof, this form of printing creates a ghostlike quality that is used as a blueprint for more work by hand. |
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