Final answer:
The artist must wipe the stone clean with water during the lithography process to prepare for the inking, as water is the correct solvent to keep the non-image areas free of ink.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the lithography process, the artist must prepare the stone for inking by wiping it clean with a solvent. The correct solvent to use at this stage is water. This is because lithography is based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. In the prior steps, an image is created on the stone or plate using a grease-based medium. Then, the stone is moistened with water so that when oil-based ink is applied, it adheres only to the greased areas. As the non-greased areas repel the ink due to the presence of a thin film of water, these areas must be kept wet throughout the process. Unlike water, solvents like acetone, alcohol, or turpentine, which are commonly used in other cleaning or preparation contexts, are not suitable for this particular step in lithography.