Druckgraphik im Paris der Nachkriegszeit: l'estampe est à la mode

Abstract

After the end of World War II an increase in the production of printed art graphics became noticeable in the creative stronghold of Paris and would grow into a veritable 'graphic boom' in the 1960s. The author examines this phenomenon, which has received little notice until now, with an emphasis on the especially favorable infrastructural conditions that offered themselves to local artists. Moreover, Furtwängler raises questions about artistic and idealistic claims and analyzes them in an art historical context. As examples she draws on a progressive group of graphic artists called 'Graphies' (1949-52), who almost fell into oblivion, as well as the much better-known artist group 'CoBrA' (1948-51), but also on material artists and pioneers of Art Informel, such as Jean Dubuffet and Jean Fautrier. This leads to her arguments explaining the striking affinity of Informel artists to the print graphic medium of expression.