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A lecture and exhibition at St Bride Library curated by Dr Paul Thirkell
FORGOTTEN HISTORIES: The Collotype print past and present.
Exhibition preview and opening lecture: Tuesday 24 January (details below)
Exhibition runs from Wednesday 25 January to Thursday 23 February
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This exhibition aims to reveal the extraordinary quality and scope of
collotype printing (a technique that holds a distinguished place in
print history as one of the first photomechanical printing processes
invented).
Although collotype has never been produced on the same industrial scale
as techniques such as the ubiquitous offset lithography, it was
consistently employed on a relatively small scale throughout most of the
twentieth century as a specialist medium for the highest quality book
illustrations and single sheet, fine art reproductions.
Although its photographically accurate printing characteristics and
exceptional colour qualities remain (even in the digital age) largely
unparalleled, its economic viability was gradually eroded during the
latter half of the twentieth century by faster and cheaper methods of
print. Where, up until the 1960s & 70s, there was an active network of
collotype ateliers scattered throughout England, Europe, America and
Japan, there are now only a handful of professional studios left
worldwide.
This exhibition traces some of the techniques use from the late 19th
century to the present, featuring work from some of the long lost
companies such as the renowned Cotswold Collotype Company, Waterlows and
Jaffe. Also featured is a rare and intriguing round up of contemporary
artists original prints from the world’s last surviving studios.
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Exhibition preview & opening lecture: Tuesday 24 January
We begin in the Exhibition Room with a preview of the exhibition from
5.30pm before moving upstairs to the Bridewell Hall for the accompanying
lecture at 7.00pm.
Our speaker, Dr Paul Thirkell, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre
for Fine Print Research, University of the West of England. One of
Thirkell’s main areas of research is the reassessment (especially in
fine art printmaking terms) of high quality nineteenth century
industrial printing techniques. Besides working to reconstitute valuable
lost processes, his research has also led to the integration of digital
imaging techniques to create unique contemporary hybrids.
Thirkell’s principal area of exploration has been through the collotype
process, ultimately bringing him into contact with what threatens to be
the last generation of professional master collotype printers. To foster
an international dialogue and exchange of knowledge at this crucial
point in collotype history, Thirkell hosted the second international
collotype conference in Bristol. Taking place early in 2005, it brought
together representatives from studios in Italy, Japan, the USA and the
UK to share their insights. He also runs a small collotype studio at the
Centre for Fine Print Research and has recently published a portfolio of
ten artists’ works that explore the dichotomy between original and
reproduction in fine art print.
Entry to the lecture, £5 or £3 concessions, on the door.
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Exhibition: 25 January to 23 February
Exhibition Room,
St Bride Library,
Bride Lane, Fleet St,
London EC4Y 8EQ
Telephone: 020 7353 4660
Hours of opening: Tuesday-Thursday, 12.30-5pm (9pm on Wednesday)
We would recommend that you do call beforehand to check accessibility
to the exhibitions, especially if making a long trip.
Entry to the exhibition is free.
For further information, see: www.stbride.org
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