Study day: Practical printmaking - learning from Old Masters
In this day course, we will engage with two printing techniques, monoprinting and a method of relief printing (linocut). At the start of the morning and afternoon sessions there will be short presentations in which we will engage with historic artists and their artworks, created using such techniques. We will then create our own individual artworks, inspired by these Masters.
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In this day session, suitable for absolute beginners as well as for more intermediate students, we will engage with two printmaking techniques which have been used by a variety of significant historic artists, and have a chance to get creative and to produce two prints inspired by these earlier practitioners, and their artworks, to take home. In the morning, we will consider two types of monoprinting, used to create monoprints and monotypes. A monotype is a one off, unique print that often combines printmaking, drawing and painting techniques, whereas a monoprint uses a repeatable base (such as an etched plate) that is modified to create a single impression or a series of related, unique prints. Monoprinting was experimented with by several notable historic artists including Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione and William Blake. In the session we will engage with monoprints by Rembrandt van Rijn, an early pioneer of the technique, who used the method atop copper etching and engraving plates to create dramatic chiaroscuro effects, and Edgar Degas, a true master of the medium, who produced extensive monotype series in which he exploited the technique’s spontaneous and painterly qualities. After an introduction to the techniques and a selection of prints created by such practitioners, we will create our own monotypes.
In the afternoon session, the presentation will focus on relief printing techniques used by Expressionist artists such as Edvard Munch and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. We will consider how such artists used relief printmaking techniques such as woodcut and linocut, often alongside a striking use of colour and line, to convey emotions. In the practical part of the afternoon session we will create dramatic linocut prints inspired by the vibrant Expressionist works of such earlier artists.
What will we cover?
• Introduction to two printmaking techniques (monoprinting and to relief printing techniques of woodcut and linocut) including a practical element
• Develop skills in visual analysis of such prints
• Introduction to historic artists who utilised these techniques, and notable artworks
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
· Understand and discuss, and engage with practically, the techniques of monoprinting and linocut · Describe different formal aspects of printed artworks, including mark making, use of tools, use of colour, paper and ink
· Identify and discuss works of art created using such printing techniques by historic artists
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations, activities, group discussions and hands-on making. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.
The materials required for this course are included in the course fee and will be supplied by the college.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You might also be interested in:
VBNew: Early Modern Printmaking
VB170: Study Day: Rembrandt and 17th century printmaking
Dr Caroline Rae is an art historian specialising in early modern northern European easel painting. Caroline uses the interdisciplinary methodology of technical art history to address questions of materiality, workshop practice, attribution and cross-cultural influence. Her current research interests are Netherlandish émigré artists who worked at court in England and Scotland in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, Tudor, Stuart and Jacobean portraiture, and the history of artists' materials and techniques. Caroline has recently published on portraiture of Mary, Queen of Scots, and she has also published previously on the materials and techniques of artists including John de Critz the Elder, Adrian Vanson, and Henry Fuseli RA.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/study-day-practical-printmaking-learning-from-old-masters3017686Study day: Practical printmaking - learning from Old Mastershttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/an-introduction-to-european-decorative-arts-at-the-v_a-vb909-1024.jpg9999GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world22851136117718891228511771136<p>In this day course, we will engage with two printing techniques, monoprinting and a method of relief printing (linocut). At the start of the morning and afternoon sessions there will be short presentations in which we will engage with historic artists and their artworks, created using such techniques. We will then create our own individual artworks, inspired by these Masters.</p>003017680Study day: Practical printmaking - learning from Old Masters9999https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/an-introduction-to-european-decorative-arts-at-the-v_a-vb909-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeSunKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-05-10T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allMay 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB2309999Study day: Practical printmaking - learning from Old Masters999999Caroline Raestudy-day-practical-printmaking-learning-from-old-masters/vb230-2526<p>In this day course, we will engage with two printing techniques, monoprinting and a method of relief printing (linocut). At the start of the morning and afternoon sessions there will be short presentations in which we will engage with historic artists and their artworks, created using such techniques. We will then create our own individual artworks, inspired by these Masters.</p>0000-Available|2026-05-10 00:00:00<p>In this day session, suitable for absolute beginners as well as for more intermediate students, we will engage with two printmaking techniques which have been used by a variety of significant historic artists, and have a chance to get creative and to produce two prints inspired by these earlier practitioners, and their artworks, to take home. In the morning, we will consider two types of monoprinting, used to create monoprints and monotypes. A monotype is a one off, unique print that often combines printmaking, drawing and painting techniques, whereas a monoprint uses a repeatable base (such as an etched plate) that is modified to create a single impression or a series of related, unique prints. Monoprinting was experimented with by several notable historic artists including Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione and William Blake. In the session we will engage with monoprints by Rembrandt van Rijn, an early pioneer of the technique, who used the method atop copper etching and engraving plates to create dramatic chiaroscuro effects, and Edgar Degas, a true master of the medium, who produced extensive monotype series in which he exploited the technique’s spontaneous and painterly qualities. After an introduction to the techniques and a selection of prints created by such practitioners, we will create our own monotypes.</p><p>In the afternoon session, the presentation will focus on relief printing techniques used by Expressionist artists such as Edvard Munch and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. We will consider how such artists used relief printmaking techniques such as woodcut and linocut, often alongside a striking use of colour and line, to convey emotions. In the practical part of the afternoon session we will create dramatic linocut prints inspired by the vibrant Expressionist works of such earlier artists.</p><p>In this day course, we will engage with two printing techniques, monoprinting and a method of relief printing (linocut). At the start of the morning and afternoon sessions there will be short presentations in which we will engage with historic artists and their artworks, created using such techniques. We will then create our own individual artworks, inspired by these Masters.</p><p>• Introduction to two printmaking techniques (monoprinting and to relief printing techniques of woodcut and linocut) including a practical element</p><p>• Develop skills in visual analysis of such prints</p><p>• Introduction to historic artists who utilised these techniques, and notable artworks</p><p>· Understand and discuss, and engage with practically, the techniques of monoprinting and linocut<br/>· Describe different formal aspects of printed artworks, including mark making, use of tools, use of colour, paper and ink</p><p>· Identify and discuss works of art created using such printing techniques by historic artists</p><p>This course is suitable for all levels.</p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.</p><p>You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations, activities, group discussions and hands-on making. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.</p><p>The materials required for this course are included in the course fee and will be supplied by the college.</p><p>You might also be interested in:</p><p>VBNew: Early Modern Printmaking</p><p>VB170: Study Day: Rembrandt and 17th century printmaking</p>Art historyEarly modern worldvirtual999999VB230NONESun10/05/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:301 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekendKSKeeley StreetCaroline RaeBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-05-10T00:00:00+00:00May 2026Culture, history & humanities9999Study day: Practical printmaking - learning from Old Mastersstudy-day-practical-printmaking-learning-from-old-masters/vb230-2526<p>In this day course, we will engage with two printing techniques, monoprinting and a method of relief printing (linocut). At the start of the morning and afternoon sessions there will be short presentations in which we will engage with historic artists and their artworks, created using such techniques. We will then create our own individual artworks, inspired by these Masters.</p>0000-Available|2026-05-10 00:00:00<p>In this day session, suitable for absolute beginners as well as for more intermediate students, we will engage with two printmaking techniques which have been used by a variety of significant historic artists, and have a chance to get creative and to produce two prints inspired by these earlier practitioners, and their artworks, to take home. In the morning, we will consider two types of monoprinting, used to create monoprints and monotypes. A monotype is a one off, unique print that often combines printmaking, drawing and painting techniques, whereas a monoprint uses a repeatable base (such as an etched plate) that is modified to create a single impression or a series of related, unique prints. Monoprinting was experimented with by several notable historic artists including Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione and William Blake. In the session we will engage with monoprints by Rembrandt van Rijn, an early pioneer of the technique, who used the method atop copper etching and engraving plates to create dramatic chiaroscuro effects, and Edgar Degas, a true master of the medium, who produced extensive monotype series in which he exploited the technique’s spontaneous and painterly qualities. After an introduction to the techniques and a selection of prints created by such practitioners, we will create our own monotypes.</p><p>In the afternoon session, the presentation will focus on relief printing techniques used by Expressionist artists such as Edvard Munch and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. We will consider how such artists used relief printmaking techniques such as woodcut and linocut, often alongside a striking use of colour and line, to convey emotions. In the practical part of the afternoon session we will create dramatic linocut prints inspired by the vibrant Expressionist works of such earlier artists.</p><p>In this day course, we will engage with two printing techniques, monoprinting and a method of relief printing (linocut). At the start of the morning and afternoon sessions there will be short presentations in which we will engage with historic artists and their artworks, created using such techniques. We will then create our own individual artworks, inspired by these Masters.</p><p>• Introduction to two printmaking techniques (monoprinting and to relief printing techniques of woodcut and linocut) including a practical element</p><p>• Develop skills in visual analysis of such prints</p><p>• Introduction to historic artists who utilised these techniques, and notable artworks</p><p>· Understand and discuss, and engage with practically, the techniques of monoprinting and linocut<br/>· Describe different formal aspects of printed artworks, including mark making, use of tools, use of colour, paper and ink</p><p>· Identify and discuss works of art created using such printing techniques by historic artists</p><p>This course is suitable for all levels.</p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.</p><p>You will be taught with lecture, slide presentations, activities, group discussions and hands-on making. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.</p><p>The materials required for this course are included in the course fee and will be supplied by the college.</p><p>You might also be interested in:</p><p>VBNew: Early Modern Printmaking</p><p>VB170: Study Day: Rembrandt and 17th century printmaking</p>Art historyEarly modern worldconfigurable
18891136Early modern worldhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/early-modern-world1/2/285/1177/1136/18891/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Early modern world
