In the 19th century, the rediscovery of Rembrandt's etchings led to renewed interest in etching techniques, which developed from black and white to the use of colour and was recognised as an independent medium. At the same time, Alois Senefelder introduced lithography, a technique that was initially intended for reproducing paintings but soon became more widely used, partly thanks to its adoption by leading artists such as Picasso.
After World War II, Paris became the center of this new graphic art movement, followed by developments in London and a similar revival in the US. In the Netherlands, graphic art flourished rapidly, with Amsterdam as an important center for creation and innovation. Contemporary artists such as Karel Appel and Marlene Dumas continue to enrich graphic art, as can be seen on Collectioneurs.nl.
Introduction to the Rediscovery of Etching Techniques
In the 19th century, interest and passion for etching techniques suddenly arose. The reason for this was the discoveries of Rembrandt's etchings. Etching technique was seen as an independent medium from that moment on, but! This technique was only and mainly used in black and white works of art until then, at a later time colour was added. Etching techniques were rediscovered from that moment on, with the difference that more and more colour was used. Lithography also made its entrance at that time: not as a rediscovery but as a new invention!
Rise to lithography
This technique was initially used mainly in the line of etching techniques, namely: reproducing paintings. Gradually it became apparent that it was not so easy to match the gloss of oil paintings with the lithography technique. The lithography technique, invented by Alois Senefelder at the end of the 18th century, appeared to have many more possibilities, in any case more than a reproduction technique. Initially this technique was used for handwritten texts and music. But the technique could be considered a medium in its own right; this is also evident from the application of lithographs by contemporary artists.
Paris center of development
What was important at that time was that important artists started using the lithography technique such as Picasso . Paris, as mentioned, became the centre for this new development after the Second World War. This is how graphic art took off, the development in Paris, which at that time coincided with the entire revival in the visual arts world with Paris as the central point, was also adopted in London in the sixties. Graphic centres were established where artists such as David Hockney created and exhibited their works. One follows the other: in the 60s there is also an American, similar, development going on. Their goal was to make graphic art flourish, to stimulate the technique and to develop it further.
