The story of printmaking: a global history of art

Abstract

A history of the evolution of printmaking as a means of creative expression, from prehistory to the 2020s. The significance of printmaking within the history of art is often underplayed, obscured, or misunderstood. This book tells the story of artist prints from across the globe in a manner that is accessible and engaging. It demystifies how prints are made, from woodblock to etching. Throughout history, printmaking has defied easy categorisation. It has straddled 'fine' art practices and commercially minded production, and has been employed as much for creative experimentation as it has for disseminating information. Its story is interwoven with industry, scientific discovery, war, politics, and cultural exchange. Born out of collaboration (where artists, printers, and publishers have come together), it has been defined by democratization: print brings art to the people. Whether formed by slicing linoleum or plunging plates into acid, and whether distributed via bound books or pasted posters, prints have not just replicated our world. Prints have also played a part in shaping our world. -- Adapted from publisher's description.

Contents

Introduction : First impressions -- Gods, empresses and ancient scrolls : print's origins in Asia -- Renaissance revelations : the advent of engraving and artistic celebrity -- Etching the artist's line : creativity, commerce and chiaroscuro -- Satire and shadows : mezzotint and aquatint in Britain and beyond -- Japan's floating world : Ukiyo-e and the Parisian poster boom -- Artistic impulse : expressionism, surrealism, and psychological process -- Resistance and revolution : Mexican metal cuts and the taller de gráfica popular -- Print goes pop : American lithography and the rise of the screenprint -- The reach of Rorke's drift : South African prints and the struggle against apartheid -- As seen on screen : expanded possibilities in the digital age.