“Prints on Paper Exhibition” from 14th – 16th April 2023

Explore the realm of ‘Prints on Paper’, which provides a preview into the diverse range of images from the collections of the Friends of the Hawkesbury art community & Regional Gallery Inc, on long term loan to Hawkesbury Regional Gallery. 

‘Prints on Paper’ opens 5 pm – April 14th in the Stan Stevens Studio, Ground Floor, The Deerubbin Centre, 300 George Street, Windsor.

This captivating exhibition—free to the public—may also be viewed 15th-and 16th April – 9am to 4 pm.  Concurrently, on Saturday 15th visitors can observe the artistic efforts of participants in a print-making workshop

History states that paper originated in China in the Eastern Han period (25-220AD), probably from a mix of mulberry bark, hemp and rags combined with water, then mashed to pulp.  With the liquid removed under pressure, the resultant thin mat was hung to dry in the sun.  

Woodcut, one of the oldest methods of making prints was the technique created from the design incised parallel to the vertical axis of the wood’s grain. 

Used in China from the 5th century to decorate textiles and in Europe from the early 14th century, the technique was not used for printing on paper till the end of the 14th century when paper began to be manufactured in Germany & France. 

In the 16th century, black-line woodcut reached its greatest perfection with Albrecht Durer and his followers Lucas Cranach and Hans Holbein.

The process of engraving also developed in the European Middle Ages, making it one of the oldest forms of printmaking.  Goldsmiths used engraving to decorate and inscribe metalwork.

It is thought that they began to print impressions of their designs to record them. From this grew the engraving of copper printing plates to produce artistic images on paper.  

Illustrating a range of print-making: from the 19th to the 21st Centuries, from the soft mezzotint engravings to the distinct lines of linocuts ‘Prints on Paper’ includes images produced by woodcuts; engravings;  stipple; etching; lithograph and monoprint. 

The exhibition provides an opportunity to examine the art of antique engraving— in the sensitive images created by George Clint ARA (1770-1854.)

This diverse exhibition includes the more contemporary works of Thomas Hardy, John Coburn, Jean Robinson, Jo Sullivan, Lucy Child amongst others..