Chinese Woodblock Printmaking: A Socially Engaged Graphic Art Form

Catalog description

Woodblock printmaking in China occupies a unique and profound place in the history of Chinese visual culture – both reflective of and linked to various political, social, and cultural movements. In this transdisciplinary course, we will explore making our own woodblock prints while investigating the historical conditions that led to the emergence of woodcut as a modern and socially engaged graphic art from the early 20th century to our contemporary time. Students will learn foundational techniques, forms, and applications of relief prints (stamps and woodblock prints) as well as contemporary approaches (using digital tools and equipment) in order to gain a deeper understanding of the art form. This hands-on approach and artistic experimentation will be accompanied by research into woodblock printmaking history, focusing on its revaluation and development in Shanghai, between 1927 and 1932 – directly supported by the writer Lu Xun 魯迅 – through applications during the Cultural Revolution, 1968-76, to the second wave of renewal starting in the 1980s. Prerequisite: None Fulfillment: IMA elective; IMB major IMA/B elective; GCS Major elective Chinese Media, Arts, and Literature elective.