Identifying prints
General Tips
Relief vs Intaglio
Look at the image. Compared with intaglio processes, relief printing allows for much larger areas of black space.
Look for a plate-mark. If there isn't one, its more likely to be a relief print than an intaglio. However, plate-marks can be added artificially or cut off.
Specific Techniques
The following questions are based on those in 'How to identify Prints...' by Bamber Gascoigne, and whilst far from exhaustive, should help indicate possible print techniques for further investigation:
Is the image formed of a regular pattern of dots or squares under magnification?
Relief Halftone
Gravure
Offset lithography
Is any embossing visible on the back of the paper within the area of the image? Do spaces between colour look cut or engraved away?
Woodcut
Chromoxylograph
Chromotypograph
Wood engraving
Line block
Linocut
Does the image have a plate-mark? Are there depressed edges around image?
Engraving
Etching
Mezzotint
Aquatint
Stipple Engraving
Drypoint
Line photogravure
Soft ground etching
Crayon manner engraving
Chalk lithograph
Tone photogravure
Nature print
Baxter print
Does the image have areas of line as opposed to tone?
Engraving
Etching
Drypoint
Line engraving
Does the image have areas of tone as opposed to line?
Aquatint
Collotype
Mezzotint
Stipple engraving
Does the image consist of one or two printed colours with additional colour added by hand?
Tinted lithograph
Tinted Engraving
Does the image consist of multiple colours? Do ink marks look individually drawn or dotted?
Colour lithograph
Colour screenprint
Chromolithographs
Other Indicators
Look for a date. Some more recent techniques may be ruled out or made more likely due to their relative popularity.
Look at other print collections. Many prints that are in the Wellcome Collection have been found to also be represented in the British Museums Prints and Drawings Collections, some of whose prints have lettering, where items in our collection do not.
Resources
'How to Identify Prints A complete guide to manual and mechanical processes from woodcut to injket' by Bamber Gascoigne
Contains a series of yes/no questions to help with identification alongside detailed explanations and images
'Prints and Printmaking An introduction to the history and techniques' by Anthony Griffith
Contains a section on abbreviations and lettering regarding technical terms which may be a support to the cataloguer.
Web Resources
Overview of broadest printing and drawing techniques
More detailed advice on identifying between engravings and woodcuts
Last updated
Was this helpful?