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.

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