By Brianna Holcomb arts and entertainment editor
“A print in the broadest definition is a work of art composed of ink on paper created through an indirect transfer process and that exists in multiples.” This is the brief definition of what print art is given by gallery curator Karen T. Albert. This definition can be found in the Hofstra Museum gallery “In Print.”
This gallery follows the evolution of print art starting with Albrecht Dürer and advancing to artists such as Robert Indiana.
The beginning of this gallery can be found in the year 1510. Dürer’s piece “Christ and the Disciples at Emmaus,” begins the journey of print.
This piece is a part of a series called “The Small Passion,” a series of woodcuts that were made to depict Jesus’s final days in life.
All 30 of the pieces found in the gallery were selected by Albert, the gallery curator. Using each piece, Albert is able to showcase the four major methods of printmaking: relief, intaglio, lithography and screenprints.
Dürer’s woodcut piece falls under the category of a relief print. Woodcuts are the earliest forms of print, making this piece excellent for the gallery. The cuts in the wood showcase intricate detail made with a delicate hand.
Andō Hiroshige a Japanese ukiyo-e artist created another of the earliest print pieces in the gallery. His piece “Harima Province: Maiko Beach” was created in 1853.
The woodblock print was created using ink and color on a piece of paper.
This piece depicts Maiko Beach found in Japan. The piece has a blue sky that turns into gray as it meets the deep red of sunset in the background. The ocean water blends from a sky blue to a deeper tone as the oceans waves meet the gray-brown of the sandy beach.
Although we can find a lot of beauty in these early pieces, as the gallery progresses it is clear to see the advancements made in technology through the works of art.
Pieces found in the intaglio section have a more engraved look to their art. Artists in this section range from a number of backgrounds including French and Dutch.
The pieces found in the screenprints section are what we see today in art.
Andy Warhol’s piece “Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland” and Indiana’s “Love” can be found in this section of the gallery.
Both artists adapted the original screenprint method to create these pieces. These pieces resemble the many billboards and posters that can be found in Times Square and across the country.
This gallery takes its viewers through a history lesson in print art. It helps to develop an appreciation for the art world and the tools used to create each piece. “In Print” will be available for viewing until Sept. 18.