We have all seen the hugely popular Marilyn Diptych but very few are aware of the technique used by Andy Warhol to create the masterpiece. Did you know that with this famous work, known as ‘one of the most influential pieces of modern art’, Andy Warhol brought the millenary art of serigraphy to the realm of fine art?
Also, addressed as silk printing or screen printing, serigraphy is the method of creating an image on paper, fabric or any other surface by pressing the ink through a screen with some areas blocked off by a stencil. Its origin can be traced back to the Chinese Song Dynasty (960-1279AD) however, it entered the commercial and artistic world only a century ago
Initially, the print was done on silk but as serigraphy gained popularity as an art form, it is rendered on different fabrics, paper and canvases. The 20th century also marked the moment when screen printing revived to an explosive scale with the rise of pop art. Artists like Andy Warhol began using the method in 1960s to create their works of art, making it mainstream. The contemporary art scenario challenged the conventional ideas about what could be art.
In India, it was M.F.Husain who recognised and championed the value of serigraphs as a medium to make his art reach a wider audience. Serigraphy has made a name for itself in the art sphere and is used extensively in the fields of fine art, advertising and everything in between.
Upcoming modern artists are employing digital tools like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create stencils and subject matter, making the technique easier and vastly applicable. The graph of screen-printing has seen many ups and downs but there has never been a better time than today for it. It continues to grow in popularity, unlike many other age-old art forms, because of its versatility and high quality.
Click here to view more Serigraphs