Which printmaking technique yields a single impression when inked on a nonabsorbent surface and transferred to paper with a press?

• A. Monotype
• B. Mezzotint
• C. Aquatint
• D. Frottage

Answer: (A)

It’s about a printmaking process that yields a single impression when inked on a smooth, nonabsorbent surface and then transferred to paper with a press. That description matches monotype because you apply ink or paint to a slick plate, surface details are captured as you press paper onto it, and the image produced is unique and not meant to be repeatedly reprinted from the same surface. The ink sits on the surface and transfers in one go, so you typically end up with just one impression per inking.

In contrast, mezzotint and aquatint are intaglio techniques that use etched metal plates to create tonal ranges and are designed to produce multiple impressions from the same plate. Frottage involves rubbing paper over a textured surface to lift an image, not transferring ink from a nonabsorbent plate with a press. So the one-off transfer described points to monotype.