Pressing the Surface, selections from th Al and Vera Leese Collection

While rooted in practical reproduction, the art of printmaking encompasses a variety of creative techniques, each with its own distinct qualities. This winter, the Exhibition Theory and Practice seminar in the Art Department has explored various facets of printmaking in the context of preparing an exhibition of prints from the Al and Vera Leese Collection, which were donated by the Leese’s daughter Marian Boylan over the past four years in honor of her parents. As students launched into research, the techniques of etching, dry point engraving, screen printing, aquatint, lithography, woodblock printing and wood engraving became focuses of investigation. Students sought to articulate how these processes complement the artists’ chosen subject matter to bring an idea, emotion, or landscape to life.