Print by Print: Series from Dürer to Lichtenstein

Print by Print: Series from Dürer to Lichtenstein was an epic exhibition of more than 350 prints by American and European artists working in series from the late 15th through the 21st centuries, including Canaletto, Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, and Ed Ruscha. On view October 30, 2011 through March 25, 2012, at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the exhibition presented a rare opportunity to view 29 series of multiple images in complete sets—revealing the true vision of the artist, print by print.

From Albrecht Dürer’s 16 woodcut illustrations for The Apocalypse (c. 1496-1498) to Roy Lichtenstein’s seven Monet-inspired color lithographs and screenprints Haystacks (1969), Print by Print demonstrates how serial printmaking has been a vital practice for artists to explore styles, subjects, and techniques for more than 500 years. The exhibition drew from the BMA’s renowned print collection to explore six broad themes—narrative, design, places, imagination, appropriation, and war. These series show a wide range of printmaking techniques, from etchings and engravings to lithographs and screenprints, and vary considerably in number and scale from Picasso’s two compelling images for The Dream and Lie of Franco (1937):

 to Sonia Delaunay’s 40 brilliant color stencils in Compositions, Colors, Ideas (1930).

All of the series, portfolios, and sets of prints in the exhibition were from the BMA’s collection of more than 65,000 works on paper, including drawings and photographs, from the 15th century to the present. Considered one of the most significant collections of works on paper in the country, it is also a comprehensive resource for the study of Western printmaking. More than half of the works in the exhibition had never previously been on view at the Museum.



Albrecht Dürer. Saint John Devouring the Book from
the series The Apocalypse. c. 1496-1498, printed 1511.
The Baltimore Museum of Art: Garrett Collection, BMA
1946.112.5855.



Albrecht Dürer. Saint John’s Vision of the Seven Candlesticks
from the series The Apocalypse. c. 1496-1498, printed 1511.
The Baltimore Museum of Art: Gift of Blanche Adler, BMA
1934.112.5847

Sonia Delaunay. Plate 24 from the portfolio Compositions,
Colors, Ideas. 1930. The Baltimore Museum of Art: Friends
of Art Fund, BMA 1997.152.24. © L & M SERVICES B.V.
The Hague 20110816

Ludovic Napoléon Lépic. Calm from the series
Views from the Banks of the Scheldt. c.1870-1876.
The Baltimore Museum of Art: Garrett Collection,
BMA 1984.81.18

Roy Lichtenstein. Haystack #3 from the series Haystacks.
1969. The Baltimore Museum of Art: Sidney M. Friedberg
Accessions Fund for Prints and Drawings, BMA 1996.80.3.
© Estate of Roy Lichenstein

Andrew Raftery. Scene One from the portfolio
Open House: Five Engraved Scenes. 2008.
The Baltimore Museum of Art: Women’s Committee
Acquisitions Endowment for Contemporary Prints
and Photographs, BMA 2008.128.1. Courtesy of the
Artist and Mary Ryan Gallery, New York

Andrew Raftery. Scene Five from the portfolio
Open House: Five Engraved Scenes. 2008.
The Baltimore Museum of Art: Women’s Committee
Acquisitions Endowment for Contemporary Prints
and Photographs, BMA 2008.128.5. Courtesy of the
Artist and Mary Ryan Gallery, New York

Hans Collaert. Plate from the series Designs for Pendants.
1581. The Baltimore Museum of Art: Purchased in Honor
of Barbara Knafel Scherlis, BMA 1999.90.2

Hans Collaert. Plate from the series Designs for Pendants.
1581. The Baltimore Museum of Art: Purchased in Honor
of Barbara Knafel Scherlis, BMA 1999.90.9