Artists in America

Printmaking-a historical perspective with a contemporary

flare!

A brief history

• First-before the printing press-printmaking was considered a means of communication-not art.

• 18th century art prints were beginning to be considered art.

• 19th century saw artists signing their prints in limited editions –this along with technical information authenticated their work.

American artists took their cue from Europe

19th century artists used prints to reach many with a single image.

Printmaking in Europe

• Began printing on textiles (fabric) 6th century• Paper technology came from the Far East• First European paper produced Spain in 1151• First European woodcuts printed on paper

were playing cards produced at the beginning in the 15th century.

Printmaking in the East

• Though we have barely touched upon Japanese printmaking here, special mention must be made of the master of woodcut, Katsushika Hokusai, who in the last half of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th produced some 35,000 drawings and prints, many of them recognized masterpieces, many of which were to exert an important influences on European printmakers.

American Printers

• Noted printmakers from early Americas are Currier and Ives, Winslow Homer and Thomas Moran. These printers’ works rivaled those of the East and Europe.

• Native American and natural settings as well as urban life were the topics of choice.

Currier and Ives focused on rural Americana.

Winslow Homer shows the perils faced by pioneers living in America

Contemporary Relief Printing

Assignment

• Research a contemporary American printmaker – record findings in sketchbook including name, age, location, education/training, print type, interesting story about artist.

• Sketch out prints in sketchbook• Using your printmaker of choice as inspiration;

create a plan for a 2-3 color linocut print.• Get approval for design and practice with

printmaking tools for multicolor technique

Active 1900 – c. 1960American

• George Adomeit Li (and printer) Amelia R. Coats Et

• Eleanor Coen Li• Alphaeus

Philemon Cole Et, En

• Werner Drewes Wo, Et

• Wedo Georgetti Et, Li

• Philip Guston Li• Thomas

Handforth Et

• Irwin Hollander Li

• Edward Hopper Et

• Jacques Hnizdovsky Wo, Li, Et

• Max Kahn Li, Wo• Rockwell Kent Li,

Wo• Albert Kotin• Doris Emrick Lee• Robert

Motherwell Et, Li

• Gen Paul• Joseph Pennell Et• Horatio Nelson P

oole (1884–1949)

• Mark Rothko• Harry Shoulberg

Sc• Hannah Tompkin

s Wo

• John French Sloan Et

• Stow

Wengenroth Li

• Grace Albee Wo, We

• Anni Albers Li, Sc• Valenti Angelo

En, Wo, Linocut• George Bellows

Li• Leon Bibel• Robert Blackburn

(artist) Li

• George Elbert Burr Et

• Minna Citron

Active from c. 1960 to 1990American

• Earl W. Bascom Et, Li, Wo

• Elizabeth Catlett Li

• Sam Francis Li, Et

• Nancy Graves Li• Mary Henry (arti

st)• Jacques

Hnizdovsky Wo, Li, Et

• Yvonne Jacquette Wo

• Jasper Johns Et, Li

• Roy Lichtenstein Li, Sc

• Jack McLarty Li, Wo, We, Sc, Et

• Barry Moser• Robert Rausche

nberg Li, Sc

• Julian Stanczak• Frank Stella Li,

Wo• John August Swa

nson Li, St, Et

• Jonathan Talbot Et

• Andy Warhol Sc

Key to Techniques: En = Engraver (includes Drypoint), Et = Etcher, Wo = Woodcut, Me = Mezzotint, Mo = Monotype, Aq = Aquatint, Li = Lithography, We = Wood engraving, Sc = Screen-printing, St = Stipple, Di = digital.

Living contemporarythe Americas

• Enrique Chagoya Et, En, Li, Di

• Susan Crile• Jane Hammond Li, Si,• Above (artist)• Jeff Koons• M. Bernard Loates We,

Me, Li, Sc, St, Di

• Virginia A. Myers Et, En• Michael Parkes Li• Lynn Shaler Et, Aq• Arthur Thrall• E. M. Washington En• Nathaniel Stern En• Carol Wax Me