In the Footsteps of Masters: Evolution of Reproductive Print May 8, 2010

The exhibition covers a span of 500 years, featuring approximately 80 European and American reproductive prints from the 15th to the 20th century. On view will be original prints by artists Albrecht Durer, Jusepe De Ribera, Edouard Manet, Jean-Baptiste Corot, Jean-Honore Fragonard, William Blake, Francisco Goya and Grant Wood, as well as reproductive prints made by engravers after the works of famous masters such as Raphael, Peter Paul Rubens, Annibale Caracci, Rembrandt, Jan Vermeer, Jan Van Eyck, Titian, Michelangelo and others. During the Renaissance, printmakers created woodcuts, engravings and etchings after notable paintings. With the advantage of being mass-produced and easily distributed, these prints allowed artists to engage with each other and exchange ideas. This propagated individual artists' fame, facilitated art education and initiated technical advancement. As the status of the printmaker as an independent artist grew, reproductive printmaking allowed for artistic expression. Artists began altering compositions or creating prints after their own works. In the Footsteps of Masters will provide a visual display that demonstrates artistic developments like these in the print medium.