| In the book, Paul examines centuries of art, ideas and creativity generated by what is one of the history’s most enduring and adaptable artistic tools. He discusses the work of numerous artists, printers and curators; he visits a host of studios, museums and galleries to present a stunning record of what the woodcut has inspired and enabled.
Here’s more on the book from its publisher – Penguin imprint, Michael Joseph:
Ink Paper Chisel Grain is a book about why the woodcut matters and why its power to shock, thrill and inspire has never diminished. From third-century China through to the present day, celebrated printmaker Paul Coldwell explores how we have used the medium to visualise ideas, capture key moments in history and help shape the society around us, telling the story of the art form itself in all its historical and intellectual significance.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, Ink Paper Chisel Grain is an ode to craft and care, conveying the marvel and excitement of seeing a woodcut for the first time – and what makes these encounters so unforgettable.
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‘A fascinating account of the hidden history of the humble woodcut.’ Sunday Times
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Paul Coldwell is an artist, curator, researcher and writer who has worked with and studied woodcuts for more than fifty years. His work has been exhibited in numerous public collections, including the Tate, the V&A, the British Museum, the Musee d’art et d’histoire (Geneva) and MoMA (New York), and since 2001 he has been a Professor in Fine Art Printmaking at the University of the Arts London. He has been a regular contributor to publications including Art in Print, Printmaking Today and Print Quarterly, and he is the author of several books, including Printmaking: A Contemporary Perspective. |
