The ecological techniques and materials in artistic graphic art

Abstract

In the paper, against the background of art and ecology associations, formerly and today, modern ecological techniques and materials used in artistic printmaking have been presented. The considerations were related to the culture of past centuries and searching for the threads of ecological thought in philosophy, religion or art. The development of ecological thinking in European art is traced from the Middle Ages to modern times. The trends, concepts and methods of environmental graphics are characterized in the context of development and research of these methods in the world and in Poland. The basic techniques of ecological intaglio (etching, soft varnish, aquatint, chipping, photopolymer techniques and electrolytic etching) are discussed. Alternative materials and procedures were proposed based on literature and authors’ own research. The advantages and benefits of using these techniques in ecological and workshop aspects were analyzed.