Chiaroscuro Woodcuts From 16th-Century Italy: Promised Gifts From the Kirk Long Collection February 2, 2011

One of the glories of 16th-century Italian printmaking was the invention and proliferation of chiaroscuro woodcuts, the first technology for reproducing images in color. Drawn entirely from the collection of Kirk Edward Long, this display traces the evolution of thematic and compositional styles in Italy from the High Renaissance through mannerism. The 21 examples also illustrate the capacity of this hybrid medium to achieve both linear and painterly effects as artists addressed the challenge of mimicking paintings in a medium that allowed for replication.