De Chirico, Guttuso, Vedova: the Italian print studio you can work in

About

THE ARTISTS AND THE WORKING PRESS ↓

Giorgio de Chirico, Renato Guttuso, Emilio Vedova, Carlo Levi, Giulio Turcato and Ernesto Treccani are among the artists listed by Stamperia d’Arte Busato, a working fine art print studio in Vicenza, Italy. The workshop occupies a sixteenth century palazzo on Contrà Porta Santa Lucia, where original lithographs, engravings and woodcuts are still produced using traditional presses, ink, stone, metal plates and paper. Founded in 1946, the studio celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026. Its third generation master printer, Giancarlo Busato, received the Maestro d’Arte e Mestiere recognition in 2020, appears in the international Homo Faber Guide and was awarded the City of Vicenza's prize for art in September 2026.

FROM DE CHIRICO TO CONTEMPORARY ILLUSTRATION ↓

The artist register spans major figures of twentieth century Italian art and contemporary illustrators. Upstairs, the permanent historical archive exhibition offers a closer look at the studio's artistic heritage. The contemporary connection is equally interesting. Riccardo Guasco, the Italian illustrator whose clients include The New Yorker and Longines, worked with Busato on lithographs for his 2026 exhibition Free Solo at the Museo Civico di Bassano del Grappa. In November 2025, Giancarlo Busato also brought his printmaking expertise to Milan's Museo Poldi Pezzoli for an artistic printing workshop supported by Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d’Arte.

MAKE YOUR OWN ORIGINAL ART PRINT ↓

One of the most interesting creative experiences in Vicenza is the opportunity to make an engraving inside the workshop itself. In the drypoint experience, you draw a design on a plexiglass plate and engrave the surface with a pointed tool. The plate is inked, carefully wiped and placed beneath the traditional star shaped press. Your design becomes an original print on handmade paper, which you can take home. The workshop also offers personalised courses in lithography, engraving and traditional printmaking, with practical activities for beginners and experienced artists. In May 2026, for example, a two session programme with illustrator Angelica Bettoni combined drypoint engraving, manual printing with Giancarlo Busato and watercolour finishing. Participants created their own matrices and three printed copies.

ART COLLECTING, LIMITED EDITIONS & BESPOKE PRINTING ↓

Busato also works with artists, illustrators, private clients and companies to produce original prints, limited editions, exhibition projects and bespoke printed works.

Three techniques are central to the studio:

• Lithography uses a drawing made on stone, with water and oil based materials controlling how ink is transferred to paper. A multicolour lithograph can require a separate stone for each colour.
• Intaglio printing, or calcografia in Italian, uses an engraved metal plate. Ink settles into the incised lines and is transferred to paper under pressure. Etching, aquatint and drypoint are among its techniques.
• Woodcut, or xilografia, prints from the raised surface of a carved wooden block.

For collectors and galleries interested in original Italian fine art prints, the studio can be contacted directly about commissioned editions, available works and individual projects.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can you visit a traditional Italian printmaking studio?

Yes. Stamperia d’Arte Busato in Vicenza welcomes visits and offers practical demonstrations of lithography and engraving, with guided experiences arranged in advance.

Can you make your own art print in Italy?

Yes. At Busato, visitors can book a drypoint engraving experience and create an original print using a traditional press. Private and personalised courses are also available.

Can you commission original lithographs or limited edition prints?

Yes. The studio offers traditional printing services for artists, illustrators and private clients. Specific projects, prices and available artworks should be discussed directly with the workshop.