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What Is Chine-Collé

Chine-collé is a printmaking technique in which a super-fine, thin paper is run through the printing press glued to a heavier support sheet.  The process allows the print to be made on a very delicate surface, such as Japanese paper or linen, that pulls finer details off the plate, creates a subtle, delicate backdrop to the printed image, and creates a collage effect.

Chine is the French word for China, referring to the fact that the thin paper originally used with this technique was imported from China. Collé is the French word for “glued.”

Categories: Printmaking Terms, Types of Prints