Leonard Baskin: Monumental Prints

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This exhibition showcases 11 groundbreaking, large-scale woodcuts created between 1952 and 1963 by the original, independent, and often controversial American artist Leonard Baskin. A renowned sculptor, printmaker, and book designer, Baskin has always followed his own unique artistic vision, and rejects the ideas, trends, and practices of the mainstream contemporary art world.

These monumental prints, depicting the human figure in full size, were created by Baskin from a single block of wood, not pieced together from multiple blocks as had previously been done when creating prints of this size and scale. Baskin’s work eventually inspired other artists, especially those associated with the Pop Art movement, to experiment with large scale printmaking. By the late 60s and early 70s artists like Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and Helen Frankenthaler were creating gigantic prints, and since then largescale prints have become commonplace in American graphic workshops.

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This exhibition is organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Currently on view