The Power of Prints

"Metropolitan Museum of Art curators William M. Ivins and A. Hyatt Mayor assembled one of the world's greatest collections of prints, from Renaissance masterpieces to popular and ephemeral works. Celebrating the power of prints not only as aesthetic objects but also as rich sociohistorical documents, Ivins and Mayor expanded our appreciation of prints as the most democratic art form. Collecting across the full spectrum of the medium and writing about prints in accessible language, they transformed notions of how art reaches the masses. The first comprehensive exploration of the lives, careers, theories, and influences of Ivins and Mayor, this book also showcases more than 125 exceptional prints that represent the breadth and depth of their acquisitions, including works by Mantegna, Dürer, Callot, Rembrandt, Goya, Whistler, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Cassatt. The Power of Prints is a fitting tribute to two innovative scholars, as well as a timely meditation on the display and appreciation of art." -- Publisher's description