Techniques
by Paul Flora

There are a large number of drawings by Paul Flora on the market from the 1930s until his last day in May 2009. He also worked as an illustrator and caricaturist until free drawing became overwhelming for him and he concentrated solely on it. The reduction of his audience to his work as a caricaturist got on his nerves and he burned the caricatures that came back to him in a barrel in the garden at Hungerburg.

He then created a large number of etchings and lithographs as a price link to the prints and books and even postcards. This tactic probably increased his popularity to the same extent as his unpretentious attention to people. His popularity remains unbroken to this day.

Harlekin - Paul Flora - 2006

1. originals

Unique copy, drawn by hand, partially colored with colored pencils or watercolors. There is only one copy, apart from possibly similar variations on the theme.

1.1. Pen and ink drawing:
Drawn with a pointed nib, in Flora's case pointed nibs, whose production has been discontinued (making forgeries easier to recognize), on handmade, specially dyed paper.

1.2. Pencil drawing:
Drawn in pencil on the same papers, although this genus is very rare in Flora.

Examples of drawings/originals from the store:

2. printmaking

Limited edition print in small numbers, normally up to a maximum of 200 copies at Paul Flora. The individual prints are numbered (e.g. 1/200 to 200/200) and signed by the artist. The plates are usually destroyed in the printmaking process (in etching, the plate is coated = devalued by two scratches; in lithography, the stone is ground off). Later prints are so-called pirated prints and are forbidden (Dali, Picasso...), but are relatively easy to discover, because there are then definitely 2 prints with the same number!

2.1. Etching (copperplate engraving)
is scratched onto a copper plate using a burin (drypoint) or covered with a layer of tar and etched after scratching (etching). The latter technique is easier for the artist. To ensure quality right up to the last print, the plate is sometimes reinforced. (With an unsteeled plate, the burr breaks after about 50 prints and the quality deteriorates significantly).

2.2. Lithography
is drawn or painted on a stone plate (Greek: lithos = stone) and printed from it. Several colors also means several stones; plates lying on top of each other result in a new color. Zinc plate lithography “is a misleading term, as a zinc plate is processed in a very similar way, but is printed by machine rather than by hand. Offset lithography”, on the other hand, is just a poster (see below)!

Examples of prints from the store:

3. pressure

Image printed using the offset process, which basically allows unlimited editions (caution: often wrongly referred to as offset lithography to mislead!) Sometimes numbered and signed for “refinement”, but such numbering and signatures are only of theoretical value. Thus, “art print”, “art poster”, “offset print” and the like are the correct terms for the technique. This process is of course also used for books, postcards, etc.

Technically speaking, offset printing has only the four basic colors (cyan, yellow, magenta, depth = black) and the dots lie next to each other in different intensities and result in the variety of color nuances in the eye through the mixture (cf. pointilism).

Special form: Special editions are printed works using the offset process that are accompanied by, for example, an etching, a lithograph or, in particularly bibliophile cases, an original. These special editions are usually cheaper than their individual components. (e.g: Book “Ein Florilegium” € 22,- plus etching € 230,-, as a special edition at € 220,-)

3.1 Poster

Paul Flora's clear lines and satirical motifs are shown to their best advantage in posters using offset printing. These prints make his works accessible to a wide audience, as they are both decorative and collectible. His birds and Venetian scenes unfold their full effect in large format. The precise printing captures the subtleties of his hatching perfectly, ideal for private or public spaces.

3.2 Books

“Flora books” offer a deep insight into his work. The offset print preserves the detail of his drawings, from delicate structures to large compositions. These works are timeless collector's items and offer a broad overview of his artistic diversity.

3.3 Art postcards

Postcards with Paul Flora's motifs are small works of art. The offset print captures the essence of his fine hatchings and humorous drawings. Ideal as a souvenir or collector's item, they preserve the artistic quality in a small space.

Examples of printed art posters from the store:

Examples of flora books from the store:

Examples of postcards from the store:

4. specials

There are also special features and other products with the “Paul Flora” label in circulation. For example, exclusive arts and crafts in the form of high-quality silver jewelry that was not made “by Paul Flora”, but based on motifs by the artist. You will also find new releases and hand-signed prints in this store category.

Examples of special features from the store:

Beware of forgeries and misnomers!

Caution – not every source sells genuine “Floras”.
Anything that is offered at an extremely low price is most likely a fake or at least falsely labeled.

Read more: Authenticity & forgeries