CLASS 12 : FINE ARTS

UNIT :3 – GRAPHIC PRINTS & MODERN SCULPTURE

INTRODUCTION OF GRAPHIC PRINT

Printmaking is a process of production of artworks of the original one. Each product print
is not a copy but considered an original artwork. Print making techniques are generally
divided into different categories like Woodcut, Linocuts, Etching and Aquatint, Dry point,
Lithography, Seriography, Mono print, Digital print etc.

WOODCUT AND LINOCUT

It is a type of relief printmaking technique on which artist make the art work and
take the reprint of the same as reverse of the drawing.

Linocut - Woodcut and wood engraving are all types of relief printing processes, in which a
piece of linoleum or block of wood is carved so that the image stands out in relief. The raised
parts that are not cut away are inked with a brayer (a hand-roller) and printed. A sheet of
dampened paper is then placed over the block and firm pressure applied so that the inked
surface is transferred to the paper.

Woodcut - For a woodcut, the wood is sawn along the grain so that it can be carved quite
easily with a knife-like tool. Wood engraving is slightly different and uses end grain wood,
which is very hard. As this is more difficult to cut, the lines are incised into the woodblock
with a sharp metal tool, meaning the image can be much more detailed. Wood engravings are
usually also smaller than woodcuts due to them being restricted to the diameter of the tree
trunk.

ETCHING AND AQUATINT

In etching a metal plate specially zinc plate is processed by nitric acid and use of an
etching needle to create the image on the plate and take the print out by the help of
printing press.

Etching is traditionally the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected
parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio (incised) in the metal. Etching has often
been combined with other intaglio techniques such as engraving (e.g., Rembrandt) or aquatint
(e.g., Francisco Goya).

DRY POINT
This is a type of engraving done with a sharp needle and creates the drawing on a
fibre sheet and then the print taken from that fibber sheet through the press.

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Dry point is a printmaking technique of the intaglio family, in which an image is incised into a
plate (or "matrix") with a hard-pointed "needle" of sharp metal or diamond point. In principle,
the method is practically identical to engraving. The difference is in the use of tools, and that
the raised ridge along the furrow is not scraped or filed away as in engraving. Like etching,
dry point is easier to master than engraving for an artist trained in drawing because the
technique of using the needle is closer to using a pencil than the engraver's burin.

LITHOGRAPHY
The image is drawn on a limestone generally known as “litho stone”; with litho pencil
and glue is applied on. After that stone is formatted in acid and the stone is ready for
print.

Lithography is a method of printing originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water.The
printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. It was
invented in 1796 by the German author and actor Alois Senefelder and was initially used
mostly for musical scores and maps.

SERIOGRAPHY
It creates prints by using a fabric stencil technique. Ink is forced through a fine
screen onto the paper beneath.

Screen printing is a printing technique where a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate,
except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. A blade or squeegee is
moved across the screen to fill the open mesh apertures with ink, and a reverse stroke then
causes the screen to touch the substrate momentarily along a line of contact. This causes the
ink to wet the substrate and be pulled out of the mesh apertures as the screen springs back
after the blade has passed. One colour is printed at a time, so several screens can be used to
produce a multi-coloured image or design.

MONO PRINT
It is a form of printmaking which creates the impact and impression of print on a
single metrics.

Monoprinting is a type of printmaking where the intent is to make unique prints, that may
explore an image serially. Other methods of printmaking create editioned multiples, the
monoprint is editioned as 1 of 1.

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 GRAPHIC – PRINT PAINTINGS

(VERY IMPORTANT TABLE)

CHILDREN
Artist - Somnath Hore

School - Modern School (Graphic Print)

Medium - Etching and Aquatint (Graphic Print)

Subject Matter - Somnath Hore's monochromatic

etching with aquatint features images of children from
the 1943 Bengal Famine, a lasting impression he left on
his early sketches and drawings. Hore's line drawings
followed representational contours and tonal devices.

Description -

Somnath Hore has created many works representing

hungry children with their mother. This etching also
shows two children with bloated stomach and thin ribs
are shown with liner effect. Their mother is standing
behind them and has put her protective hand on their
shoulder. Suitable tones of mild blue, grey and black
used for the theme of under nurtured children who

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represent the existence of poor in a depressed society. This graphic print is showing the
human life value of our society

Collection - National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

DEVI

Artist - Jyoti Bhatt

School - Modern School (Graphic Print)

Medium - Etching and Intaglio (Graphic Print)

Subject Matter - Jyoti Bhatt, a 1970s artist, created an

etching on paper based on folk traditions and popular
practices. His works balance space tradition and
modernity, incorporating traditional forms into
contemporary dynamics. The print features Devi's pictorial
image, a woman's frontal face, and folk motifs.

Description -

This print represents the concept of fertility and power

worship as Devi. The form of kundalini encircles the
female fertility power. In the lower section of print provides
an overall frame to the entire composition. Deep etching
within intaglio in black provides an interesting texture to the serpentine form. The forehead
of Devi is decorated with a brilliant vermillion dot. The Devi has wide open eyes is a typical
feature of Durga image of Bengal.

Collection - National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

OFF WALL
Artist - Anupam Sood

School - Modern School (Graphic Print)

Medium - Lithography (Graphic Print)

Subject Matter - Anupam Sud, a printmaker from India, created an etching in 1982 from
zinc plate and paper, focusing on social problems faced by marginalized communities and
artistic understanding of their reality.

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Description –

Anupam Sood used her perfect craftsmanship

and understanding of anatomy to create
composition in which figures are playing a
prominent role. Off Wall is a lithograph print
taken by the help of the limestone in which a
woman form is sitting under a wall and on the
foreground a male lower limb has been drawn.
This print is showing the humanity, emotions,
life value and internal feeling of human being.
The wall is printed in brown colour and line
drawing of folk paintings is drawn in the wall
in white colour.

Collection - National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

MAN, WOMAN AND TREE

Artist - K. Laxma Goud

School - Modern School (Graphic Print)

Medium - Lithography (Graphic Print)

Subject Matter – K. Laxman Goud, influenced by

visual traditions, classical, folk, and popular cultures,
blurred lines between major and minor arts, allowing
him to explore mediums like glass painting,
terracotta, and bronze.

Description -

This vertical graphic print is having four trees in

background. While in the foreground on left side a
woman is sitting under the tree wearing a nose ring
and a necklace. She is looking towards the man, who
is opposite to her appearing under the trees and
looking at her. light blue and green colours are used
to create this print. Green coloured bushes are drawn at the front of the composition.

Collection - National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

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 MODERN SCULPTURE

MODERN SCULPTURE PAINTINGS

(VERY IMPORATNT TABLE)

TRIUMPH OF LABOUR
Artist – D.P. Rai Chowdhury

School - Modern School (Sculpture)

Medium - Bronze and Cement (Modern Sculpture)

Subject Matter - It shows four men trying to move a rock, rendering the importance and
contribution of human labour in nation building. The image of group labour is placed on a
high pedestal, thereby, replacing the notion of portraits of kings or British dignitaries

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Description -

This is sculpture is displayed in front of

the National Gallery of Modern Art and
can be seen by passing through main road
of India Gate. In this sculpture four
labours are engaged in a task of moving a
block of stone with the help of wooden
logs. All the labours are wearing only loin
cloths and two of them have covered their
heads with a piece of cloth. These labours
are working in a hilly area. Through this
sculpture the artist has conveyed the idea
of united efforts that can move any
blockade. This sculpture is showing the
human life values.

Collection - National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

SANTHAL FAMILY
Artist – Ramkinkar Baij

School - Modern School (Sculpture)

Medium - Cement and Concrete (Modern Sculpture)

Subject Matter - The significance of this work is that it is

regarded as the first public modernist sculpture in India
which speaks of the family migrating from one region to
another, carrying all their frugal possessions. (The
material of which it is made of is important. The artist has
avoided traditional medium like marble, wood or stone, and
has preferred cement, the symbol of modernisation.)

Description -

Rough textured group of Santhal Family with its multiple

figures and strong movement is shown in this sculpture.

In this composition a male and a female figure is standing

side by side with walking action. a dog with them and a child is seating on a front side
basket hanging from the balancing rod. The backside basket of the balancing rod is filled
with some household material. The female is walking beside the man has carried the load
on her head and carried her child in her left waist. It is an entire family in migration. This
roadside sculpture is placed on a rough textured land of Santiniketan and made with
graves, cement and red clay of that area which are easily available.

Collection – Viswa Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal

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 CRIES UNHEARD
Artist – Amarnath Sehgal

School - Modern School (Sculpture)

Medium - Bronze (Modern Sculpture)

Subject Matter - Amarnath Sahgal's 1958 bronze sculpture

features three stick-like figures in flat rhythmical planes,
resembling a family. The work can be seen as socialist,
paying homage to millions of destitute families whose cries
are ignored, highlighting their need for help.

Description -

There are three standing figure of a family with their gloomy

faces showing agony and distress. Man, woman and a child
stand with their hands raised upwards. these figures are
simplified and almost primitive simplicity gives an element of
strength to this sculpture. The sculpture has suggested the
cries op suffering human by making hollowness in their
heads. Made mask like faces keep appearing again and again
in the sculpture of Amarnath Sehgal, which is showing the human life values.

Collection - National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

GANESHA
Artist – P.V. Janakiram

School - Modern School (Sculpture)

Medium – Wire, Tin, Oxidised Copper (Modern Sculpture)

Subject Matter - P. V. Janakiram's 1970 oxidised copper

sculpture features linear silhouettes, rhythm, growth, and
lyrical stylisation, blending folk and traditional
craftsmanship, despite its volume and focus on linearity.

Description -

This sculpture of Ganesha is made of metal, tin and copper

wire. In this sculpture Ganesha is in dancing posture. His left
foot is down and right is folded near the knee of left leg. He is
holding a Lotus bud in his right upper hand. The upper left
hand he is holding an engraver and he is playing a veena by his other two hands. Mostly
the sculpture is completed different designs of wire.

Collection - National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi

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