Antony Griffiths

A landmark publication that catalogues the history and development of the printed image Gutenberg’s invention of moveable type made it possible to print letters. But images could only be printed using two other technologies that were developed alongside letterpress. One depended on wooden blocks which were cut and printed in relief, the other on copper plates into which lines were cut by engraving or etching and were printed on a rolling press.Copper-plate printmaking developed into a huge business employing thousands of people, and dominated image production for nearly four centuries across the whole of Europe.Its processes remained very stable, and a man of 1500 could have walked into a printing shop of 1800 and understood what was going on. During the nineteenth century this world was displaced by new technologies, of which photography was by far the most important.

An Introduction to European Printmaking 1550 - 1820

The Print Before Photography

Frances Carey

British Museum. Department of Prints and Drawings

During the early-20th century the leaders of the German Expressionism were also the greatest European printmakers of their day. This catalogue discusses and illustrates over 200 prints and 44 printed books, and includes the work of artists such as Bruecke, Kirchner and Heckel.

The Age of Expressionism : Prints from the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum

The Print in Germany, 1880-1933

Introductory text that touches on the basics of various printmaking techniques and briefly describes the history of each.

Antony Griffiths

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