Glossary: Lithograph

The artist draws directly onto a stone block with greasy ink or crayon. The stone is then dampened. Colour is applied but, being repelled by water, sticks only to the greasy lines. The stone is usually larger than the printing paper and therefore leaves no plate mark. The stone mostly used was limestone, a very heavy material, resulting in artists like Harry Becker carrying them around in a wheelbarrow when he worked 'plein air'