Cornelis Galle the Elder (Flemish; Antwerp, 1576-1650), Procne Showing Tereus the Head of his Child (after Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish; Antwerp, 1577-1640), c. 1637, Engraving, Museum purchase 1980.92
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In the Footsteps of Masters:
The Evolution of the Reproductive Print
January 21 - May 23, 2010
Figge Art Museum
225 West Second St., Davenport, IA
This exhibition has now closed.
Spanning 500 years of Western printmaking history, In the Footsteps of Masters features approximately 80 reproductive prints from the 15th to the 20th century, including original prints and drawings by artists Albrecht Dürer, Annibale Carracci, Jusepe De Ribera, Edouard Manet, Jean-Baptiste Corot, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, William Blake, Francisco Goya, and Grant Wood, as well as reproductive prints made after the works of famous masters such as Raphael, Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Jan Vermeer, Jan Van Eyck, Titian, Michelangelo, and others.
The exhibition, curated by UIMA Curatorial Graduate Assistant Nathan Popp, traces an important component of the history of Western printmaking: the usage and development of reproductive prints. Before the invention of photography, prints made with techniques such as engraving, woodcut, and etching were created after notable works from other mediums. With the advantage of being mass-produced, reproductive prints allowed artists to widely distribute their work, which could build the reputation of a famous master artist or a legendary work of art. As the artistic status of printmakers grew, many began incorporating their own expressive elements rather than creating strict copies of the original works. These advancements caused new techniques to develop. In the Footsteps of Masters presents a visual timeline of the story of how Western reproductive printmaking started and how it changed over time.
This exhibition is sponsored by MidWestOne Bank and an Anonymous Donor.
Related events: Lecture: Nathan Popp, "Refining Reproductive Prints in Rubens' Workshop," April 11
