A monoprint is a unique work of art made using a printmaking technique. Monoprints thus diverge from the typical purpose of various printmaking methods: making multiples of the same image. Monoprints can be made using a number of approaches, all involving making marks on a plate of some sort. Because no chemical reactions are involved, monoprint plates can be made of many materials, including copper, zinc, plexiglass, Masonite, or even Styrofoam. To produce an image, an artist might cover the plate with an even coating of ink using a brayer, then wipe or scrape the ink away using sticks, pieces of cloth, or paint brushes dipped in turpentine. This is known as a subtractive method. An artist might alternatively use an additive method, starting with a blank plate and drawing or painting onto it with ink. Once the artist is satisfied with the image, he or she places a piece of dampened paper on top of the plate and runs it through a printing press, transferring the image to the paper. The plate can be cleaned and used again to produce more monoprints.

Monoprints have a distinctive aesthetic; many consider monoprinting the most painterly type of printmaking. The medium beautifully translates artist’s gestures from the plate to the final print. While other printmaking techniques have a steep learning curve, almost everyone can easily learn to produce a monoprint because of its similarity to painting and drawing. Some artists who produce monoprints include Rita Ackermann, Nicole Eisenman, Amy Bennett, Joe Andoe, Kate Shepherd, and Pat Steir.