Through the Mesh: SerigraphBy Liz

Who would have thought that squeegeed ink through a stencil and fine mesh screen would create art?

This particular art medium is called a serigraph, it surfaced in China during the Song dynasty from 960–1279 AD. But the serigraph, or silkscreen printing, was made popular in the 1960's. Traditionally silk was used as the material for screen printing, but the use of silk died with the fad of the 1960's. Joseph Ulano founded the industry chemical supplier Ulano and in 1928 created a method of applying a lacquer soluble stencil material to a removable base. This stencil material was cut into shapes, the print areas removed and the remaining material adhered to mesh to create a sharp edged screen stencil.

The People and Groups of Silkscreen

Yet it was in 1938 when the use of silkscreen as a modern artistic medium began with a group of New York artists: the Federal Art Project. This group experimented with silkscreening and coined the term which comes from the latin word "seri" (silk) and "graphein" (to write or draw.) The group evolved into the National Serigraph Society and promoted this form of printmaking for twenty years.

The society's and groups that parented the serigraph medium are a vital part of this printmaking style's growing up. Joseph Ulano is important to the history of serigraphy as well but there is another name that resounds clearer in our minds.

This man is credited with making serigraphy hip and popular; pop artist Andy Warhol. He is best known for his 1962 Marilyn Monroe screen printing, where he depicted the actress in bright colors. Artists like Warhol, Tom Wesselmann, and Robert Rauschenberg began to experiment with colors and textures that were not available in other art mediums; they took serigraphy to a new level of sophistication.

The Relevancy of Serigraphy

This printmaking process of serigraphy has morphed since the 1960's but still holds a prominent place in the art world as an artistic medium. It holds a prominent place in the Baterbys Art Gallery as well. We pride ourselves on displaying original works of art printed as a serigraph.

The Printer's National Environmental Assistance Center says "Screenprinting is arguably the most versatile of all printing processes." At Baterbys our serigraph prints are an important component to the gallery and bring a versatility to the quality of our works.