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What is the difference between a lithograph and an etching?

1 Answer
What is the difference between a lithograph and an etching?
The difference between a lithograph and an etching is that while both are types of prints, they are made using different techniques. With respect to lithography, the image to be printed is drawn or painted on a stone or metal plate with an oil-based substance, such as a greasy crayon or tusche (an oily wash). The stone is then covered with water, which is repelled by the oily areas. Oil-based ink is then applied to the wet stone, adhering only to the oily image. Afterward, the stone is covered with a sheet of paper and run through a press.

Etching is a way of incising lines in a metal plate by first drawing on an acid-resistant coating, or ground, to reveal the metal beneath. The plate is then submerged in acid, which “bites” the lines into the metal plate. The ground is then removed and the plate is inked for pressing.

Find a collection of lithographs for sale on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertApril 3, 2024
Shop for Art by Medium: Lithograph on 1stDibs
"Apparition at the Border of Language"
Located in Lyons, CO
This print presents a fictitious encounter between contemporary colonial forces and Native Americans who are defenders of immigrant refugees and displaced populations. The artist de...
Category

2010s Contemporary More Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Water Serpents II-Lithograph offset print-dry seal-plate signed-Germany edition
Located in London, GB
This is a rare edition published in 2022-23 coincide the exhibition in Euro. This high quality fine art lithograph paint is in mint condition, never been exposed to light and have be...
Category

Early 1900s Art Nouveau Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

"L'Artisan Moderne" lithograph poster
Located in Henderson, NV
Medium: lithograph (after the poster). Printed in Paris in 1950 by Mourlot Freres, this multi-stone color lithograph faithfully reproduces the original Toulouse-Lautrec poster in a s...
Category

1950s Prints and Multiples

Materials

Lithograph

Untitled Composition II (Maeght, Bold Outline, Narrative, ~42% OFF - MUST GO)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Valerio Adami Untitled Composition II from "DLM No. 220" Original Color Lithograph on Vellum Year: 1976 Edition: 2,000 Size: 14.9 x 22 inches (37.8 × 55.9 cm) Unsigned and not indiv...
Category

1970s Pop Art Abstract Prints

Materials

Vellum, Lithograph

Joan Miro, Japan, from Miro as Sculptor, 1974
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Joan Miro (1893–1983), titled Japan, from Miro escultor (Miro as Sculptor), originates from the 1974 edition published by Bijutsu Shupan Sha, Tokyo, and printed by La Poligrafa, Barcelona, 1974. The work reflects Miro’s lyrical mastery of biomorphic form, symbolic purity, and gestural spontaneity, embodying the visionary abstraction that made him a defining figure of twentieth century modernism. Executed as a lithograph on Guarro velin paper, this work measures 7.87 x 15.47 inches (20 x 39.3 cm). Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued. The edition exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of La Poligrafa, Barcelona. Artwork Details: Artist: Joan Miro (1893–1983) Title: Japan Medium: Lithograph on Guarro velin paper Dimensions: 7.87 x 15.47 inches (20 x 39.3 cm) Inscription: Signed in the plate and unnumbered, as issued Date: 1974 Publisher: Bijutsu Shupan Sha, Tokyo Printer: La Poligrafa, Barcelona Catalogue Raisonne References: Cramer, Patrick, and Joan Miro. Joan Miro, Catalogue Raisonne des Livres Illustres. P. Cramer, 1989, illustration 194 Miro, Joan, et al. Joan Miro : Lithographs. Tudor, 1972-1992, illustration 937. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: Published by Bijutsu Shupan Sha, Tokyo; printed by La Poligrafa, Barcelona, 1974, in an edition of MD About the Publication: Miro escultor (Miro as Sculptor), published in 1974 by Bijutsu Shupan Sha in Tokyo, is a richly produced lithographic edition created to accompany and celebrate Joan Miro’s expanding work in sculpture during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Printed by the renowned La Poligrafa workshop in Barcelona one of the most important printers of modernist and postwar graphic art the publication formed part of a larger project intended to document and disseminate Miro’s sculptural innovations to an international audience. During this period, Miro turned increasingly toward three dimensional form, collaborating with foundries and experimental workshops to transform his biomorphic vocabulary into bronze, painted wood, ceramics, and mixed media assemblages. The publication Miro escultor functioned both as an artistic portfolio and as an interpretive document, presenting lithographic translations of sculptural ideas that were simultaneously graphic works in their own right. The edition of MD examples reflected Bijutsu Shupan Sha’s commitment to high quality multiples and the broader 1970s movement to democratize access to contemporary art through carefully produced prints. Today, the publication stands as a testament to the intersection of Miro’s painterly gesture, his graphic discipline, and his growing fascination with spatial and sculptural expression. About the Artist: Joan Miro (1893–1983) was a Catalan painter, sculptor, printmaker, and ceramicist whose visionary imagination and lyrical abstraction made him one of the most influential and beloved artists of the 20th century. Born in Barcelona, Miro drew inspiration from Catalan folk art, Romanesque frescoes, and the luminous landscapes of Mont roig del Camp, developing a deep connection to nature that infused his work with vitality and symbolism. After formal training at the Escola dArt in Barcelona, he absorbed the lessons of Post Impressionism and Cubism before moving to Paris in the early 1920s, where he became a leading figure in the Surrealist movement. There, Miro forged a personal visual language of biomorphic shapes, floating symbols, and radiant color harmonies that reflected both spontaneity and spiritual depth. In creative dialogue with peers such as Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray, he helped revolutionize modern art by dissolving the boundaries between abstraction and dream imagery. Miro’s inventive approach extended far beyond painting, embracing sculpture, ceramics, and monumental public commissions that redefined how art could interact with space and emotion. His expressive freedom and gestural abstraction profoundly influenced later artists including Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet, Antoni Tapies, and Joan Mitchell, inspiring generations who sought to merge instinct, color, and imagination. Today, Miro’s work remains a cornerstone of modernism, prized by collectors and celebrated in major museums worldwide. His highest auction record was achieved by Peinture (Etoile Bleue) (1927), which sold for 23,561,250 GBP (approximately 37 million USD) at Sotheby’s, London, on June 19, 2012. Joan Miro Japan...
Category

1970s Surrealist Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Marc Chagall, The Candelabrum, from The Jerusalem Windows, 1962
Located in Southampton, NY
This exquisite lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887–1985), titled Le Chandelier (The Candelabrum), from the album Marc Chagall, The Jerusalem Windows, originates from the 1962 edition pu...
Category

1960s Expressionist Figurative Prints

Materials

Lithograph

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