How Prints Look: Photographs with Commentary

by William M. Ivins Jr., Marjorie B. Cohn (Reviser)

This unique book is the classic introduction to appearances of various types of prints and the techniques involved in producing them. Combining a rich selection of illustrations with explanatory commentary, the revised edition also includes a new introduction, additional illustrations, and a bibliography.

Genres: Art

188 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1958

Reviews

[📚Linda Blake]

How Prints Look provides numerous illustrations of of how prints from various printmaking techniques look. It’s not so much about the technicalities of printing but how to identify the printing process when looking at prints. Unfortunately for me, I was wanted to see examples of prints post 19th century. I wanted to identify my meager collection. Four stars for the book being the classic guide to identifying early prints.

[Sarah]

This is an excellent introduction to different print techniques and how they look, especially in close-up. While it makes great background reading and provides some useful tips on what to look for in different types of prints, it is not of great use as an identification guide for unknown prints.

[Jessica]

3.5 stars, for producing about as many questions as answers. I was either totally engrossed or unequivocally stumped, such that this book had the peculiar quality of addressing amateur and prior-knowledgeable readers by turns. I learned a terrific amount, and I suppose it could be said in favor of Ivins’ laconic captions that I’m eager for more, but some of his remarks left me in the dark completely without further, deeper explanation. Hmm...perhaps if this were simply shorter, more treatise-length, I wouldn’t have regretted the gaps so much, because learning by looking is a brilliant approach to this subject area, and this book certainly leans into visual material. In short: quite accessible; confidently recommended.

[Ang]

Summary: This unique book is the classic introduction to the appearances of various types of prints and the techniques involved in producing them. Combining a rich selection of illustrations with explanatory commentary, the revised edition also includes a new introduction, additional illustrations, and a bibliography.

[Chris Cox]

A good sampling of techniques and example prints, but dated, and VERY Eurocentric (completely ignores Asian printing).

[M]

This a fantastic introduction into the methods of printing. The author explains the most important terms and methods in a concise but understandable way. The many illustrations help to understand the text and their captions provide additional information. Very nice little book.