Art Decoded: Screenprinting

Andy Warhol played a pivotal role in elevating screen printing from a commercial technique to a respected artistic medium. His innovative use of the process allowed him to explore themes of mass production, celebrity culture, and consumerism, which became hallmarks of the Pop Art movement. By repetitively reproducing iconic images, Warhol challenged traditional ideas of artistic originality and authenticity. His bold, vivid works, such as the Marilyn Monroe series and Campbell’s Soup Cans, showcased the potential of screen printing to create striking, impactful art. Warhol’s contributions significantly broadened the scope and perception of screen printing, cementing its importance in contemporary art.

Screenprinting, an ancient art form originating in China around AD 950, was initially used to print patterns on fabric and later adopted by Japanese artisans for paper and fabric using human hair mesh. It reached Europe in the 18th century but gained popularity only after silk became more affordable through the Silk Road. By the early 20th century, photo-sensitised emulsions revolutionised stencil creation, leading to its use as an artistic medium in the 1930s, termed 'serigraphy.' Artists like Andy Warhol popularised screen printing in the 1960s for creating multiple image copies, exemplified by Warhol's Marilyn Diptych. Today, screenprinting serves both artistic and commercial purposes, efficiently producing large quantities of custom designs.

Step 1: The design is created

The printer prints the design onto a transparent acetate film. This will be used to create the stencil.

Step 2: The screen is prepared

The mesh screen is then coated with a layer of light-reactive emulsion, which will harden when developed under bright light.

Step 3: The emulsion is exposed

The acetate sheet featuring the design is then laid onto the emulsion-coated screen, and the whole thing is exposed to a very bright light. The light hardens the emulsion, so the parts of the screen which are covered by the design remain in liquid form.

Step 4: The emulsion is washed off, creating the stencil

Any unhardened emulsion is then carefully rinsed away. This leaves a clear imprint of the design on the screen for the ink to pass through.

The screen is then dried, and the printer will make any necessary touch-ups or corrections.

Step 5: The paper is readied for printing

The screen is then placed on the printing press. The paper (or other material being printed) is laid down flat onto the printing board, underneath the screen.

There are a number of different presses, including manual and automatic styles.

Step 6: The ink is pressed through the screen

The screen is lowered down onto the printing board. Ink is added to the top end of the screen, and a squeegee is used to pull the ink along the full length of the screen. This presses the ink through the open areas of the stencil, imprinting the design on the material underneath.

Step 7: The work is dried, checked and finished

The printed product then passes through a dryer, which 'cures' the ink and creates a smooth, colourfast finish.

Step 8: The process is repeated for additional colours

If the final design is going to include more than one colour, then a separate screen must be used to apply each layer of ink.