A Century of Prints in Britain

An important and informative survey of printmaking in Britain, featuring works by the major British artists of the century, from Paul Nash to Patrick Caulfield and David Hockney; and from Bridget Riley to Paula Rego and Tracey Emin.

Showcasing over 200 highlights from the Arts Council Collection's renowned print holdings, A Century of Prints in Britain begins with an etching by Walter Sickert and takes us through the decades to a series of prints created by leading British artists for the London 2012 Olympics. The book features the iconic work of Paul Nash, Graham Sutherland and John Piper as they seek to spearhead a new sense of national identity during and after the Second World War, and the startling innovations of 1960s Pop artists such as Richard Hamilton, Eduardo Paolozzi and Bridget Riley. Prints from masterful series by Patrick Caulfield, David Hockney, Chris Ofili and Paula Rego are illustrated alongside striking portfolio works by YBAs such as Fiona Banner and Tracey Emin, among many others.

Prints expert Julia Beaumont-Jones tells a fascinating and little-told story of a medium that democratised art in the post-war period, exploring how its widening popularity was linked to exciting developments in technique and subject matter. Featuring masters of the medium alongside lesser known practitioners, Prints in Britain provides a long-overdue survey of this popular form.

Artists represented include Patrick Caulfield, Peter Blake, Fiona Banner, Helen Chadwick, Lucien Freud, Richard Hamilton, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, Gary Hume, Tess Jaray, R.B. Kitaj, John Minton, Chris Ofili, Julian Opie, Eduardo Paolozzi, Cornelia Parker, Ken Price, Paula Rego, Bridget Riley, Rachael Whiteread and many more.