IMPRESSIONS THROUGH AGES: AN ANALYSIS OF CONVENTIONAL AND MODERN TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED BY EMINENT PAKISTANI PRINTMAKERS

Abstract

This paper discusses how the art of Printmaking has, over the years, gone through a complete process of transformation in Pakistan. From the use of conventional techniques such as woodcut, etching, and lithography to modern methods like digital printmaking, photogravure, and mixed-media approaches, the Pakistani printmakers have come a long way. The contemporary Pakistani artists, while employing both the techniques, have very successfully incorporated them in their works in quite an effective and masterful manner. This study compares the traditional and contemporary techniques employed by the artists in Pakistan, analyzing their artistic innovation, technical know how, and conceptual implications. By examining and critiquing their works, this paper highlights how modern technological advancements have influenced printmaking while preserving the core of traditional craftsmanship. The study juxtaposes both the techniques, while emphasizing their respective significance in shaping and evolving the works of selected Pakistani printmakers, demonstrating the usability and incorporation of both the techniques in contemporary art practices.

Keywords: printmaking, techniques, modern techniques, woodcut, lithography, etching, digital printmaking, photogravure