ART 601J ST: History of Printmaking
When the technology of printmaking first fell into place in the West around 1400, artists gained the opportunity to produce multiples of an image from a single matrix. From playing cards to printed Bibles and scientific texts, the printed image opened doors to a new powerful line of communication for artists and writers of early modern Europe. As technologies advanced, and artists moved beyond woodcuts to the intaglio processes of engraving, etching, drypoint, and aquatint, printmakers rapidly developed new ways to present imagery. By the nineteenth century, lithography and serigraphy had added even more dimension to the printmaking field. In the 20th and 21st centuries, artists have continued to use printmaking to experiment and communicate in original ways. This course will offer a survey of the rich and diverse history of printmaking, beginning with its inception in the fifteenth century through its developments over the centuries.