Artists have been known to express their sociopolitical views in their work, but one art form stands out against others with the inherent ability to more easily produce copies and distribute their messages to a wider audience: printmaking. The Colorado State University museum exhibit "Activist Printmaking: Selections from the Permanent Collection" features artistic political grievances through the world's history.
GO & DO
When: Tuesday-Saturday through Aug. 31.
Where: University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St., Fort Collins.
Info: Visit artmuseum.colostate.edu.
"It's a small exhibition with prints from our permanent collection that range in date from the mid-19th century, starting with (Honoré-Victorin) Daumier prints through contemporary artists," said Linda Frickman, the museum curator.
Printmaking involves transferring an image from an inked plate to paper, allowing for the production of multiples, as opposed to painting, which results in singular works with a limited and location-bound audience.
"What we are looking at is the continuing tradition of using printmaking to address sociopolitical issues. Artists in different time periods and different places have understood the print is something that is easily disseminated and is therefore more of a democratic art form and a way to reach a large audience," Frickman said.
From Daumier's early lithographs to Kara Walker's 21st century linoleum cuts, this exhibition provides a wide variety of the art form as it evolved, while also giving viewers an idea of the political climate that inspired each of the pieces.
"Daumier is probably the most important 19th century printmaker in France and he was using the printmaking medium as a means of criticizing the French kings in times of censorship," Frickman said.
Work by a more contemporary printmaker, Richard Mock, can also be seen at the exhibit. He was best known for his linocut illustrations that appeared on the op-ed page of The New York Times from 1980 through 1996, and has been cited as an influence for many printmaking artists today.
"We're trying to highlight our permanent collection and to have people be able to understand that the production of multiples in printmaking is of continuous interest to artists who want to address different social issues," Frickman said. "We have examples of extraordinary craftsmanship, especially with the Daumiers, you could say that's really the case."
The exhibition is located at the University Art Museum and is free and is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday until Aug. 31.
"Because we're looking at such a long period of time, almost 200 years, of artists utilizing these strategies, it really tells us that printmaking as a medium to reach an audience is still very vital for artists," Frickman said.