Although many artists used engravings, etchings, and woodcuts to create original artworks, prints were first generally used to reproduce other works of art. Before photography was invented, paintings, frescoes, and sculptures were often known through prints. A fresco in Rome would be more widely known in Florence, Antwerp, or Vienna through its engraved reproduction, which existed in multiple copies. Printed on paper, engravings and etchings were more portable and easily handled, circulating more freely through space. Prints also allowed for the dissemination of visual form, knowledge, and stories-often biblical or mythological-and made singular works of art accessible to broader audiences.
These highlights are part of For One and All: Prints from The Block’s Collection, an exhibition that explores prints and printmaking by bringing together a diverse range of artwork from the permanent collection.
