Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, usually on paper. Prints are created using some sort of plate or block (wood, metal, linoleum) with either an engraving or etching technique.

Prints generally have a very distinct look to them. They have many different sizes of lines that all come together to create an image. Can you point out any of the lines? If yes, where?

Artist: Albrecht Dürer
Date: 1516
Medium: Prints, Print
Size: 12 1/8 x 8 1/4 in. (30.8 x 20.96 cm) (plate)

Prints can be made using black ink or colored ink. Printmaking is generally a subtractive process where the lines that you carve are the negative spaces; the lines are void of color and the non-marked area is where the color is visable.

Which part on this print was carved and which part is the non-marked area?

Artist: Jasper Johns
Date: 1969
Medium: Prints, Edition Prints/Proofs
Size: sheet 38 x 31 inches

Prints also have a distinct line quality where many small lines are carved to create the illusion of a bigger line or a grouping/mass.

Can you point out any of those lines in this picture? Where?

Artist: James Gillray ; Published by Mrs. Hannah Humphrey
Date: February 11, 1801
Medium: Prints, Print
Size: 14 x 10 1/2 in. (35.56 x 26.67 cm) (sheet)

A painting uses the process of applying paint/pigment/color to a surface, usually canvas, wood, paper, or a building wall. The application of paint is usually done with a brush.

Paintings can have a wide variety of colors and the image can look very realistic.

Artist: El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos)
Date: c. 1570
Medium: Paintings, Painting
Size: 46 x 59 in. (116.84 x 149.86 cm) (canvas)45 1/2 x 58 in. (115.57 x 147.32 cm) (sight)60 x 72 1/2 x 3 in. (152.4 x 184.15 x 7.62 cm) (outer frame)

Paintings can use a wide variety of marks and lines. Unlike prints, shapes and colors blend together easily. Lines are not as harsh as in prints and can be more expressive.

Artist: Robert Vonnoh
Date: 1903
Medium: Paintings, Painting
Size: 30 1/4 x 36 1/4 in. (76.8 x 92.1 cm)

Sometimes paintings can look similar to prints. What are some similarities between this painting and a print?

What qualities make you know that this is a painting not a print?

Artist: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Date: 1935
Medium: Paintings, Painting
Size: 27 3/4 x 31 3/4 in. (70.5 x 80.6 cm)

Painting or print?

Describe what features tell you this.

Artist: Francesco Guardi
Date: c. 1785

Painting or print? Look closely at the details.

What specific details gave you the answer?

Artist: Jakob Hoefnagel
Date: 1592

Painting or print?

What qualities gave you the answer?

How would this artwork differ if it was a print? What specific qualities would this artwork have?

Artist: Severin Roesen
Date: 1858

Painting or print? Why?

What can you see in this artwork to show how it was made?

Artist: Sigmar Polke
Date: 1995