Module Information

Module Identifier

AH30620

Module Title

The Image Multiplied: European Printmaking since 1400

Academic Year

2026/2027

Co-ordinator

Mr Philip Garratt

Semester

Semester 1

Exclusive (Any Acad Year)

AH21620

Reading List

View example reading list on Aspire

Other Staff

Course Delivery

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment length / details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Essay that draws on 15 secondary sources – books and journals. 2,500 words, plus bibliography and documented illustrations. 2000 Words	50%
Semester Assessment	Research project analysing an original print from the School of Art Museum collection that draws on 10 secondary sources – books and journals. Project to be negotiated in tutorials. 2000 Words	50%
Supplementary Assessment	Essay that draws on 15 secondary sources – books and journals. 2,500 words, plus bibliography and documented illustrations. 2000 Words	50%
Supplementary Assessment	Research project analysing an original print from the School of Art Museum collection that draws on 10 secondary sources – books and journals. Project to be negotiated in tutorials. 2000 Words	50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

demonstrate a critical understanding of the technical, socio-historical and art historical contexts of printmakers and their work;

distinguish between the various ways in which artists draw for process, identifying the qualities of mark that are specific to each print process;

evaluate the reasons why artists have made and continue to make prints;

identify period styles and historic print media, demonstrating an understanding and sure handling of technical terminology.

Brief description

In Europe the print industry developed out of a need for reproductions and illustrations as a means to communicate information visually. Much of our knowledge of works of art before the introduction of photography, for example, came from the print. For over 400 years its function was imitative: engraving emulated pen drawing, soft ground the crayon, mezzotint the chiaroscuro of an oil painting, or aquatint the delicacy of watercolour. Some artists however saw the creative potential of printmaking, not just as way to reproduce their works in another medium, but for the intrinsic mark-making possibilities of each process. Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Francisco Goya, James McNeill Whistler, Pablo Picasso and David Hockney are among the many that recognised the creative potential of print as a means of expression.
This module examines the characteristics and role of printmaking within the European and, latterly, American tradition through an analysis of the work of some of its key practitioners. The relationship between image and process, the use of print as reproduction, and the development of the fine art print will be considered. Prints will be discussed in relation to their social, historical, art historical and technological contexts. At most classes there will be opportunities to study first-hand original prints from the School of Art Museum and through a trip to the National Library of Wales.

Content

This module will be taught in two-hour long weekly sessions. Each week will include both a lecture and either a seminar or workshop on a specific topic. The lectures will survey aspects of the history of printmaking from the fifteenth century to the present day as well as occasionally showcasing staff research. Workshops will develop key skills such as understanding print processes and how to identify different prints. Seminars may involve some pre-reading exploring key texts in recent print history. Most sessions will provide opportunities for hands-on learning by viewing original prints from the collection of the School of Art Museum. There will also be a separate visit to view prints by Dürer, Rembrandt and Whistler at the National Library of Wales.

Module Skills

Skills Type	Skills details
Communication	Articulating ideas through seminar discussions as well as academic writing skills in the essay.
Improving own Learning and Performance	Independent study through class assignment research and preparation.
Information Technology	Information retrieval from various academic research portals and online museum collection databases.
Personal Development and Career planning	Emphasis on professional presentation of research and bibliography using MLA style documentation.
Problem solving	In class discussion, print identification, essay research and writing, and in the examination. Analysis and interpretation of print and their makers.
Research skills	Academic essay research and writing, and in the examination. Image sourcing.
Subject Specific Skills	Grounding in the materials used and techniques employed in making prints. Handling of rare prints from School of Art and National Library of Wales collections.
Team work	Seminar group discussion and presentation.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6