Western Arts in the 20 Century Through Printmaking -The Challenge of Artists-

The 20th century saw the emergence of varied forms of artistic expression in the West. Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque created Cubist pieces by drawing on motifs from a multitude of directions and reorganizing them on a single canvas, while Max Ernst, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró became known as Surrealist artists fascinated by the realm of the unconscious. Marcel Duchamp opened the door to modern art when he moved to the USA and began presenting previously unconsidered concepts, such as exhibiting existing objects as art. The USA then saw the rise of Abstract Expressionism, as represented by Jackson Pollock, which had a major influence on the Neo-Dada movement from such artists as Jasper Johns, and on Pop Art from such artists as Andy Warhol. Artists were learning from existing works of art while also seeking their unique forms of expression.
　The 20th century also saw significant development among printing studios. Printers became involved not only in the reproduction of artworks but also in their actual expression, as seen in the way that Stanley William Hayter's Atelier 17 stimulated the creativity of artists. Improvements in technology also contributed to the realization of the exact expression sought by the artists.
　This exhibition, centered on prints from the Takamatsu Art Museum's collection, presents approximately 200 pieces by 20th-century artists. They range from masters such as Picasso and Henri Matisse to modern artists such as Julian Opie and Damien Hirst and seek to trace the overall trajectory of the period as these artists continued to challenge their forms of artistic expression.

Western Arts in the 20 Century Through Printmaking -The Challenge of Artists-（外部サイト）