Lithographs and Engravings

Special Collections holds a number of etchings, engravings, and lithographs.  Engraving is one of the oldest and most important techniques in printmaking. It is a physical process with the engraver actively carving a pattern onto stone, wood, or metal.  Etching uses acid to create an image on a hard surface.  Both techniques then have identical printing processes with ink placed on the surface of the image and a sheet of paper pressed into the ink to make the printed image.  Lithography has no carving.  An image is Artwork was drawn on the limestone slab with a greased or waxy pencil.  Water was added and was absorbed by the stone but repelled by the grease.  Printers ink was spread over the stone slab, clung to the grease lines and was repelled by the water.  The illustration was then pressed onto the paper. Enjoy the images created through these techniques as part of the art collection of the Concord Free Public Library.