What is the purpose of a Baren or Burnisher in printmaking?

The purpose of a Baren or Burnisher in printmaking is to rub paper to transfer ink from the plate. When an artist uses a Baren, they apply pressure onto the back of the paper against the inked plate, which facilitates the transfer of ink onto the paper. This process is crucial for achieving clean and even prints, particularly in techniques like woodblock printing and lithography. The Baren, which is often a circular disc with a textured surface, allows for uniform pressure to be applied, ensuring that the ink adheres properly to the paper.

In contrast, creating designs on the printing surface involves carving or etching the image, which is not the function of a Baren or Burnisher. Elevating print surfaces is related to the setup for printing but is not the primary role of these tools, and mixing inks is typically done with a different set of tools such as a palette knife or mixing slab rather than the Baren or Burnisher. Thus, the specific action of transferring ink through pressure is what defines the role of a Baren or Burnisher in the printmaking process.