Of the 275 printed works that Käthe Kollwitz created, almost half are lithographs. Already in her early works and then especially in the second half of her life, she used this technique to achieve a broad impact with large editions, posters and leaflets. Etching, on the other hand, is found only in the artist’s early work; later she abandoned this technique altogether.
Lithography
Lithography is a flat printing process in which an image is transferred from a previously treated stone onto paper. It is based on the principle that grease and water repel each other.
The limestone is sanded smooth before a greasy litho chalk is used to apply the inverted image. Using a chemical process, the image is fixed on the stone by bonding the stone and fat. Dusting the stone with talc secures the image. Then the surface is subjected to the so-called “etching”: a solution of nitric acid, gum arabic and water ensures that the unpainted parts do not absorb grease. Next, the stone is washed with water and turpentine. After this process, the drawing exists only as a ghost image. The stone is rolled in with a grease-based ink and the etching process is repeated.
Now the printing process begins. For this, the damp stone is placed in the hand press and rolled up with printing ink. There is a lot of grease where you have drawn (causing the water to roll off), and there is a lot of water in the free areas, which is why the ink does not stick. The stone is covered with a dampened sheet of paper, and a protective layer of cardboard, and the pressing can begin. Due to the enormous pressure, the paper absorbs the printing ink and a lithography is created. For each subsequent print, the damp stone needs to be re-inked.
Etching
Etching is a printing technique that allows artists to create detailed and precise graphics on paper. The process begins with the artist covering a plate of metal, usually copper or zinc, with an acid-resistant substance, such as wax or asphalt ground. The artist then uses special tools, such as etching nails or erasers, to remove the protective material from the plate and expose the metal underneath.
Once the desired design is created on the plate, it is immersed in an acid bath. The acid bites into the exposed metal and creates tiny indentations or “etchings.” The longer the plate remains in the acid bath, the deeper the etchings become. This process allows the artist to introduce different tonal values and textures into the design.
After the etching process, the plate is cleaned and covered with ink. The ink is rubbed into the etchings and the excess ink is removed from the surface of the plate. The plate is then placed on a printing press and covered with a sheet of paper. The tremendous force of the printing press forces the paper into the recessed areas of the plate, transferring the ink to the paper. The resulting printed piece is a detailed and accurate reproduction of the original design.
