This course will examine the emergence of the modern print in nineteenth century Europe and trace its development up to the present day. Questions of technique, from etching, lithography and relief prints, through to photograph-based printmaking and the digitised computer image, will be considered in considerable detail. Questions of what constitutes an original print and some of the theoretical implications of these definitions will be discussed. Although the course will examine the heritage of European and American printmaking, a major focus will be twentieth century printmaking in Australia. Extensive use will be made of the major collections of Australian and international prints in public collections in Canberra.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

1. Distinguish and understand the historical development of the main printmaking technologies including relief printmaking, intaglio, lithography, screenprinting and digital printmaking

2. Link developments in printmaking with changes in the social functioning of printmaking

3. Be familiar with the main curatorial procedures involved with printmaking

4. Research and access information on printmaking and critically eveluate it

5. Speak and write with confidence on printmaking

Students must submit and perform all assessment tasks in order to complete the course.  Failure to submit assessment items by the last day of the exam period and perform assessment tasks on schedule will result in an NCN.

Oral presentation and paper - 2,000 word tutorial paper (20%) (LO 2,3,4,5)

Research essay - 3,500 word essay (50%) (LO 1,2,3,4,5)

End of semester visual test (20%) (LO1,2,3)

Tutorial participation (10%) (LO 1,2,3,4,5)

* Grishin, S, Contemporary Australian Printmaking, Craftsman House

* Taliman, S, The Contemporary Print from Pre-pop to Postmodern, Thames

* Ivins, W M, Prints and Visual Communication, MIT