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September 18, 2004
The art world is so funny
So I noticed a few artist's (digital and otherwise) websites advertising "Giclée" prints. That wasn't a printing technique I was familiar with, so off I go to see what it is about.
Its French(ish), of course, for ink-jet. Why on earth you have to make up a new term instead of saying "ink-jet" is beyond rational understanding. A good, modern ink-jet machine is certainly capable of producing art and archive quality prints. The ink-jet machines have actually very nearly destroyed the market for Iris (oh good heavens, these are now "Giclée" as well) and dye sublimation printers. So why bother with a separate term for expensive ink-jets loaded with nice paper?
It is so bad to acknowledge that (at least for for purely digital works) the real work takes place in front of a computer screen and that the physical product is produced by someone pressing "Print" and taking a coffee break? Is the word "Giclée" supposed to evoke an image of the artist toiling with wooden frames, baths of chemicals and inks?
Oh well, at least I'm not the only one to find the term amusing.