"Mastering the Medium: Woodcuts"
2000-05-27 until 2000-08-20
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Santa Barbara, CA, USA United States of America

This is the third in a series of exhibitions featuring the main printmaking media and based on selections from the Museum's collection. These broad surveys provide an overview of each medium while illustrating the scope and particular strengths of the print collection, now numbering approximately 9000 works. In the case of woodcuts we are able to trace the history of the medium to its very beginnings in the era of book publishing and illustration using woodcuts.

The l5th century Augsburg artist Gunther Zainer, was probably the first to use woodcut images in printed pages to replace the hand drawn and painted religious images previously of manuscript illuminators. Two elaborate religious scenes in the High Renaissance style by Albrecht Durer represent masterpieces in the use of woodcut artistry which had evolved rapidly by the late l5th century, and an early l6th century woodcut by Italian artist Hugo da Carpi employs multiple woodcut blocks printed in differing colors introduces another stage in the evolution of the woodcut.

Representing the great revival of interest in the use of woodcut as a medium for original artistic expression, the exhibition includes a large group of l9th century works. Included are examples of French, English and American artists inspired by the techniques and compositions of Japanese color woodcuts which made their appearance in Europe beginning in the mid-l9th century. The l9th century selections also include the original, innovative use of woodcuts by artists such as Felix Valloton who in the l890s initiated the modern movement in the use of woodcut. This impetus was closely followed by the powerful work of the German Expressionists exemplified by two l9l4 works by Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. Another revival in the l950s led by such artists as Leonard Baskin and Antonio Frasconi, along with the use of the woodcut by a number of contemporary artists demonstrates the continuing vitality and relevance of the medium.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of California

Other Important Exhibitions in Santa Barbara