The contemporary print

the long version

Today, not only do the best artists of our time frequently make prints, some of the most highly regarded artworks are prints. More editions are being produced by more artists in greater diversity than at any point in history. This book provides for the first time an authoritative critical survey of printed art over the last four decades - an indispensable reference for students, scholars, art professionals, artists, collectors and would-be collectors, examining and illustrating the work of more than 170 artists from 11 countries. Starting from the foundation of Universal Limited Art Editions in 1957, The Contemporary Print explores thoroughly the differing traditions of postwar Europe and America: the brilliant experiments of Johns and Rauschenberg; the Pop explosion; the Multiple; Op art, Minimalism and Serialism; Conceptual artists exploiting the language of photography; the rejection of mechanical slickness in the 1970s; the revival of Expressionism and figuration in the 1980s; and the new energies with which the print continues to influence and intrigue us today, expanding the ways in which we think about art. With a fully detailed catalogue, workshop histories, biographies of all the most prominent artists, and a glossary of print terms, this is a unique and invaluable guide - one of the few essential books for anyone concerned with contemporary art.