What is the definition of original print in art?
In the world of art, an original print is a distinctive form of artwork directly created by the artist using a printing process.
Based on common definitions in the art community, an original print is fundamentally an artwork that is manually created and then printed by the artist. It is not simply a copy of an existing painting, drawing, or photograph.
According to expert descriptions, an original print is defined as:
- An artwork that has been manually created – methods include being drawn, carved, or inked.
- This creation is then printed on a printing press by an artist.
- A key characteristic is that it is not a reproduction of an original artwork that exists in another format.
- Every individual piece within an edition of original prints is handcrafted in its own right.
Key Characteristics of an Original Print
To be considered an original print, the artwork typically embodies several core features:
- Direct Artist Involvement: The artist is directly involved in the process of creating the printing matrix (such as a plate, block, screen, or stone) and often the printing itself, or supervises it closely.
- Primary Medium: The printmaking process is the primary method used to create the final artwork.
- Original Creation: The image is conceived and executed specifically for the print medium, rather than being a photographic or digital copy of a work made in a different medium.
- Edition: Original prints are typically produced in limited numbers called an edition, with each print signed and numbered by the artist.
Original Print vs. Reproduction
It's essential to distinguish an original print from a reproduction (like a poster or giclée print of a painting). While a reproduction is a mechanical or digital copy of an existing artwork, an original print is the result of the artist's manual work in creating and printing the image from a matrix. Each print in an original edition is considered an authentic piece of art created through the printmaking process.
In summary, an original print in art is a unique, manually crafted artwork produced by the artist via printmaking techniques, representing the artist's direct creative expression in that medium.
