ITALIAN PRINTS 1875-1975

Italy saw a remarkable revival in high-quality printmaking during the 100 years following independence in 1861. This catalogue discusses Italian artists' highly individual engagement with naturalism, realism and symbolism during this period, and their relationship with the contemporary artists of other European countries. The foundation of the Venice Biennale at the end of the 19th century and a series of major international exhibitions led to a significant interaction between Italian and French, German, Swiss, British and American printmaking. Italian printmakers were at the forefront of the leading art movements of the age, such as Futurism, Metaphysical Painting and Arte Povera. Particularly notable were the achievements of several outstanding figures, including Fattori, Boccioni, Severini, Morandi, De Chirico and Fontana, all of whose work is discussed here. This fully illustrated catalogue - the first publication devoted to the subject - draws from the collection recently formed by the British Museum, supplemented by works from the Estorick Collection, Tate Modern and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Included are 123 works by 45 artists, introduced by a general discussion of printmaking in Italy since the beginning of the 19th century.