The Experimental Print: Stanley William Hayter and the Artists of Atelier 17

Perseus Beheading Medusa; AndréRacz

​The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is currently abuzz with their newest Italian masters exhibition, "Titian and the Golden Age of Venetian Painting." But the MIA is a large museum made up of rooms big and small, so it's easy to get distracted away from the main event.

Gallery 263, nestled between a Minnesota-specific exhibit and a room of photography, is currently host to a bold, modern, and colorful show titled "The Experimental Print: Stanley William Hayter and the Artists of Atelier 17." Atelier may not be as old as the Titian artists, but the group is historically significant in its own right.

In the late 1920s Stanley William Hayter founded Atelier 17, a printmaking studio that was also home to such significant artists as Miro, Pollack, and Calder. The various pieces in this exhibition are unmistakably of modern design. One stand-out piece--and there are many--is a dark maroon and red engraving by André Racz, titled Perseus Beheading Medusa. Racz was clearly influenced by Hayter's use of extraneous lines around what may be construed as the initial outlines of the piece. It's fascinating to see that no matter how busy the work appears to be, there is no doubt that the image is exactly what the title says it is.

For modern art lovers, print makers, and history buffs, "The Experimental Print: Stanley William Hayter and the Artists of Atelier 17" is undoubtedly a must-see and will be on display through Sunday, March 6 at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, located at 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis. This exhibit is free.

Apocalyptical Space; Mauricio Lasansky

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