Serigraphs and Arthur Secunda

I would really like to take a printmaking class so that I can learn more about this art form.  Serigraph printmaking is especially interesting to me, because of the works of Arthur Secunda.  I first saw Secunda's Voyage at an antique shop, and I lost a small eternity staring at it.  I could not walk away.

https://pin.it/q7j7b3e5b4rwbv

According to Cedar Hill Long House Art Publishing, serigraphy is silk screening.  It is a  "stencil-based printing process in which ink is forced through a fine screen onto the paper beneath."  As a vegan, I was initially concerned that serigraphy would go against my ethical beliefs.  However, Cedar Hill Long House Art Publishing explains that while screens were once made of silk, they are now made of nylon or finely woven polyester.  Serigraphy is the most ancient form of printing and can be traced back to the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 AD).  It was used in Asia and introduced to the Western world in the late eighteenth century.  However, it did not become a popular art form in the United States or Europe until the 1930s (Cedar Hill Long House Art Publishing).  Andy Warhol is probably the most famous serigraph printer. 

To create a serigraph, a screen is stretched over a frame and areas of the screen are blocked with a stencil.  The screen is placed on top of paper and covered with ink.  A brayer roller is used to spread the ink evenly over the screen.  The ink passes through the open spaces onto the paper.  Cedar Hill Long House Art Publishing explains that as a different screen is used for each color, the final serigraph has a vibrant color density, saturation and texture.  Serigraphs are considered a form of original art, not reproduction.  The original artist and printer must work together to create a serigraph, making sure that the colors and stencils are exactly right.  The original artist must approve each serigraph.  The serigraphs are titled, signed and numbered.  In limited edition serigraphs, the artist must destroy all stencils and trial copies to guarantee the exclusivity of the prints.

Works Cited

“What is Serigraph Printing?” What is Serigraph Printing?, Cedar Hill Long House Art Publishing, 

 

     2018, www.cedarhilllonghouse.ca/blog/what-serigraph-printing.