lithographer

American  

[li-thog-ruh-fer] / lɪˈθɒg rə fər /

noun

1. a person who works at lithography.

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Etymology

Origin of lithographer

First recorded in 1675–85; lithograph(y) + -er ¹

Explanation

A lithographer is a person who makes prints from designs created on flat stone or metal plates. A lithographer creates a design on a flat surface, which was traditionally limestone, but could also be metal. The design is applied using a greasy medium, like an oil-based crayon or ink. The surface is treated with chemicals so that when a roller of ink is passed over it, the ink adheres to the design only, not the blank parts. A piece of paper is pressed onto the inked surface to make a print. This printing process is called lithography, from the Greek words lithos, "stone," and graphos, "something drawn or written."

Example Sentences

At age 17, Homer was apprenticed to a Boston lithographer, where he practiced his draftsmanship and learned about composition, process and business.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

A painter of the late Victorian period from Camden Town in London, Smith began as a lithographer before switching to painting.

From BBC • Jul. 20, 2024

Mr. Leiber, 95, a painter, lithographer and sculptor, has works in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum, while Ms. Leiber, also 95, has purses on display at the Smithsonian Institution.

From New York Times • Jan. 6, 2017

The company name comes from François-Charles Oberthur, a master printer and lithographer whose company in 1842 produced currencies and stock certificates.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2016

He suggests Vincent could be a lithographer, design letterheads.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman