New Books Network Holly EJ Black, "The Story of Printmaking: A Global History of Art" (Yale UPs, 2026)
10 snips
May 11, 2026 
Holly E.J. Black, journalist and printmaker turned author, discusses the global sweep of printmaking history. She traces origins from Dunhuang to Renaissance Europe and Edo Japan. Topics include craft and commerce, political prints from Mexico to South Africa, studio networks, and why prints remain tactile and politically potent today.
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Metalworking Gave Rise To Renaissance Print Processes
- Printmaking blurred craft and fine art boundaries because techniques like engraving and etching derived from goldsmithing and armour decoration.
- Black explains intaglio versus relief and how metalworking skills translated into print innovation in Renaissance trade cities.
Armorers Migrated Skills Into Printmaking
- Armorers produced highly decorative etched suits and panels, and many printmakers came from armourer or goldsmith families.
- Black notes Dürer was son of a goldsmith and describes etched biblical and mythological ornament on helmets and gauntlets.
Hogarth Turned Prints Into A Business Model
- William Hogarth combined artistic skill with business innovation by creating closed print editions and selling subscriptions to fund production.
- Black explains Hogarth set edition sizes and pre-sold prints to create scarcity and direct income outside patronage.
