artotype: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Obsolete/Hyper-specialist)Formal / Historical / Technical (Printing/Art History)
Quick answer
What does “artotype” mean?
An obsolete 19th-century photomechanical printing process for producing fine art prints.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An obsolete 19th-century photomechanical printing process for producing fine art prints.
While technically a historical printing method, the term is sometimes used more broadly to refer to any high-quality, artistically produced photomechanical print, especially those from the late 1800s. It is a specialist, historical term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference. The word and the process it describes are equally obscure in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries connotations of antiquity, craftsmanship, and the early history of photographic reproduction.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use. Might appear in museum catalogues, auction listings, or advanced art history texts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “artotype” in a Sentence
[an/this/the] artotype [of something][print/produce/process] an artotypeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “artotype” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The photograph was artotyped for the catalogue.
American English
- The image was artotyped to ensure tonal fidelity.
adjective
British English
- The artotype plate was prepared with great care.
American English
- She specialises in artotype reproductions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in art history and print history to describe a specific 19th-century photomechanical reproduction technique.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A layperson would likely say 'an old-fashioned print' or 'a Victorian copy'.
Technical
Precise term within historical printmaking/photography. Refers to a non-screen collotype process using a gelatin-coated plate.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “artotype”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “artotype”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “artotype”
- Using it to describe modern art prints.
- Pronouncing it as 'arto-tipe' with a long 'i'. The correct final syllable is 'type' as in 'prototype'.
- Assuming it is a common or active term in contemporary art.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an obsolete, hyper-specialist term used almost exclusively in historical contexts related to printing and photography.
No, it would be incorrect. The term refers specifically to a 19th-century photomechanical process. Using it for a modern print would be anachronistic.
An artotype is not a photograph but a printed reproduction of one, made using a gelatin plate without a halftone screen, giving it a unique, continuous-tone appearance.
Not at all for general communication. It is only relevant for those with a deep interest in the technical history of art, printing, or photography.
An obsolete 19th-century photomechanical printing process for producing fine art prints.
Artotype is usually formal / historical / technical (printing/art history) in register.
Artotype: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɑːtə(ʊ)taɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːrtoʊtaɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ARTO-TYPE' as the ART OF creating a TYPE of photographic print in the olden days.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FOSSIL OF TECHNOLOGY (an embedded, preserved remnant of a past method).
Practice
Quiz
In what field is the term 'artotype' most likely to be encountered today?