Warhol's Blotted Line

Warhol’s early illustrations incorporated the use of the blotted line technique giving his drawings an unpredictable and uniquely elegant quality. The blotted line technique is a primitive printing method similar to etching or letterpress in that a plate is repeatedly inked and multiple reproductions are made from it.

Each inking and impression of the original image produced a unique result, repeatedly. Each print could be colored and have additional drawing done to it providing multiple versions Warhol could present to the client increasing the likelihood he’d be awarded the final commission.