Intaglio
Print "Mother and Child"
Etching by Louis
Delsarte
As art is produced in limited numbers, each work in
the "edition" is then signed and numbered
in sequence as it is completed by the Artist, Master
Printer or both. The Printing process occurs in stages.
Various types of Printing "proofs" are created
as the printmaker prepares the printing surface before
the main edition is printed...and afterwards. One must
consider that with each print that is hand-pulled from
a printing surface, wear occurs incrementally and over
time. Image sharpness and intensity is lessened with
each hand-pulled print. It is therefore standard practice
for Artists and Printmakers to sequence and document
each work as it is produced during the various stages.
Typically, when a limited edition art project is completed
an Artist or Printer might destroy or deface the printing
surface as a show of integrity and to guarantee exclusivity.
In select cases, the actual printing surface itself
might be kept and regarded as a work of art. Plates
may also be held for modified versions of the original
edition.
The notations and abbreviations listed below are used
to document the stage of completion and sequence of
a limited edition artwork in addition to explaining
the degree of Artist and/or Printer involvement the
creation process.
2nd ed - Second edition: prints of the same image
as the original edition but altered in some way (as
in change of color, paper or printing process).
2nd st - Second state: prints of proofs which
contain significant changes from the original print.
AP - Artist's Proof
Del - (Latin, delineavit) He (she) drew it. Generally
inscribed next to the artist's signature.
E.A. - (French, épreuve d'artist) An artist's
proof
Exc or Imp - (Latin, excudit) He(she) executed
it. The meaning is synonymous with (Latin, impressit)
he(she) printed it.
HC - (French, Hors d'Commerce) Prints from an
edition intended to be used as samples to show to dealers
and galleries.
Inc. or Sculp - (Latin, incidit) He(she) cut
it. The meaning is synonymous with (Latin, impressit)
he(she) carved it. These abbreviations refer to the
individuals who engraved the master plate.
Inv. or Invent - (Latin, invenit) He(she) designed
it. Generally inscribed next to the artist's signature.
Lith. or Litho - "Lithographed By".
Usually follows the name of the printer of the lithograph.
Pinx. - (Latin, pinxit) He(she) painted it. Generally
inscribed next to the artist's signature.
PP - Printer's proof
TP - Trial proof
Provenance - Record of ownership for a work of
art, ideally from the time it left the artist's studio
to it's present location, thus creating an unbroken
ownership history.
Remarque - Small sketch in the margin of an art
print or additional enhancements by the artist on some
or all of the final prints within an edition.
Restrike - Additional prints made from a master
plate, block, lithograph stone, etc. after the original
edition has been exhausted.
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