First Impressions: Printmaking in 19th-century France

Prints were everywhere in the 19th century: from street posters and newspaper caricatures to experimental works that pushed the limits of ink and paper. Nevertheless, our first impressions of 19th-century French art are often dominated by painting — this talk will introduce you to another side of the period, the fascinating world of prints. Exploring hidden gems from Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, guest speaker Dr Rachel Skokowski will trace the key developments and debates that revolutionized 19th-century printmaking.

Dr Rachel Skokowski is a PhD graduate of the University of Oxford and a Rhodes Scholar with expertise in 18th–19th-century French art history and the intersection of art and technology. She is currently the Curatorial Research Assistant, European Art at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

Image credits:
James Tissot, Octobre, 1878. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 2002.
Alexandre Lunois, Magasin de nouveautés, 1902. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1979.
Camille Corot, Souvenir of Italy, 1863. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1981.