Zincography
Zincography is a technique of etching on zinc. Invented by the creator of lithography, Aloys Senefelder, the process was developed in the 1820s. It is widely used until the middle of the 19th century to print maps, posters and prints. It is then replaced by photozincography, which is used for the industrial printing of photos on zinc plates. Zincography remains a popular engraving technique, especially in the early 20th century. It is prized for its simple way of returning colour to the print.
Zincography is at the origin of the offset lithography technique, which consists in replacing the lithographic stone by a cylinder that transfers the pattern. This process eliminates the direct contact between the stone and the paper, in favour of a layer of rubber that acts as an intermediary between the pattern and the sheet.
Zincography then converges the technique of lithography with that of offset in its industrial use. Offset is seen more as rapid reproduction without digital limits thanks to the automation of the process, while traditional lithography is linked to the notion of the original work, which is more prized by print enthusiasts.
Frédéric Bisson
However, zincography is an engraving process that remains dear to artists, especially in the 20th century: thus, great names such as Gauguin, Hartung or Toulouse-Lautrec have produced zincographies.
Zincographs from the Hans Hartung exhibition at the Arenthon Gallery
