AHY 1142 - Woodblocking

Credits: 2
This course offers an introduction to the history and practice of woodblock printing world-wide, including Japan, France, Germany and the United States. Woodblock printing has facilitated transcultural artistic exchanges, as, for instance, in the late 19th century when European Modernists discovered Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcuts. The technique has also been a source of national identity and pride, as was apparent in Germany during the Expressionist movement, when artists were inspired by illustrators of the German Renaissance. According to their interests, students will conduct in depth research on artists who mastered this relief process and will present their research in class. In the studio, students will gain an appreciation for the versatility of this technique, which has been employed to create works that range from raw and immediate to measured and refined. This course will introduce such diverse artists as Albrecht Dürer, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Kitagawa Utamaro, Paul Gauguin, Mary Cassatt, Rockwell Kent and M.C. Escher.