Subscribe: RSS
January 19 through March 14, 2010
In the century and a half before the advent of photomechanical reproductions in the mid-1800s, mezzotints were the favored medium for publicizing English paintings. Compared to traditional printmaking techniques, such as engraving and etching, the new tonal method was praised by contemporaries for its ability to represent the painterly qualities of light and shadow. Although generations of artist had used prints to heighten awareness of their designs, the establishment of regular public exhibitions in London in the second half of the eighteenth century significantly increased the demand for inexpensive and widely available editions of fashionable pictures. Many painters embraced the picturesque appearance of mezzotints, including Reynolds, Turner, and Constable.
Generously supported by the Bernard R. Siskind 1955 Fund and the Cissy Patterson Fund.
Download the exhibition brochure
Click here for gallery panoramas of "The Artful Disposition of Shades": The Great Age of English Mezzotints.
27 January,Wednesday, 5:30 P.M.
Arthur M. Loew Auditorium
LECTURE
Art and Industry: A History of Mezzotint Engraving
Carol Wax, artist and author of The Mezzotint: History and Technique
30 January, Saturday, 2:00 P.M.
INTRODUCTORY TOUR
“The Artful Disposition of Shades”: The Great Age of English Mezzotints
16 February,Tuesday, 12:30 P.M.
LUNCHTIME GALLERY TALK
Mezzotint: The Art of Darkness
Louise Hamlin, Professor and Chair, Studio Art Department, Dartmouth College
19 February, Friday, 10:30 A.M.
Two Rivers Print Studio, Tip Top Building, White River Junction
MEMBER EVENT
Print Demonstration and Lunch
Join artists Judy Lampe and Sheri Hancock-Tomek and Curator of European Art Bart Thurber for a mezzotint printmaking demonstration and discussion. Pre-selected lunch at the Tip Top Café to follow. Space is limited. Call (603) 646-9660 for reservations.
27 February, Saturday, 2:00 P.M.
INTRODUCTORY TOUR
“The Artful Disposition of Shades”: The Great Age of English Mezzotints
2 March,Tuesday, 12:30 P.M.
LUNCHTIME GALLERY TALK
The Beauty of Shadows: Eighteenth-Century English Mezzotints
T. Barton Thurber, Curator of European Art, Hood Museum of Art
3 March,Wednesday, 6:30-8:00 P.M.
ADULT WORKSHOP
Velvety Prints
In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about an extraordinary form of printmaking known as “mezzotint.” Mezzotints produce velvety surfaces and textures that look like charcoal drawings. In the studio, we’ll explore a simplified version of this process. No previous art experience necessary. Participation is limited. Call (603) 646-1469 to register.
