Most of us dream of owning an original Pablo Picasso or Joan Miró but original prints by famous artists are rare and very expensive. However, lithographic prints offer the chance to own a piece of beautiful artwork printed by a craftsman that has been reproduced in small quantities from an original image and they won't cost the world.
The term lithograph comes from the Greek words lithos, meaning "stone" and graphein, meaning "to write". Lithography is a printing process that allows an original piece of art work to be reproduced. The basic method is based on water and oil repelling each other. An image is drawn directly onto a stone tablet (usually limestone) using a greasy crayon or pencil and the stone is then covered with water. When the ink is applied to the stone, the ink is attracted to the greasy image and repelled by the water.
AbeBooks has a vast selection of lithographs - the prints below are all from the 20th century featuring bold, bright colors, many from well known artists. There are several booksellers who specialize in lithographs and their inventories are worth a look. We recommend Rare Posters as an excellent source for lithographs.
A Guide to Collecting Lithographs
See the guide
A Selection of 20th Century Lithographic Prints:
Mohammad Sami Burhan
Signed limited edition titled "Yes to Life - No to Drugs" by the Syrian-born painter
Sold for $125
Who is your favorite 20th century artist?