A new Perspective on the Role of the Paper in the Graphic Collections of Complutense University of Madrid

Abstract

The Complutense University of Madrid holds the largest and most important uni versity heritage collection in Spain. One of the finest collections within this institution is the Graphic collection preserved in the Faculty of Fine Arts, the fruit of the centre’s teaching and studying work. This article hopes to contribute to the knowledge of the centre’s printmaking practices, and the work carried out on the evolution of the paper used as a surface for prints, and the characteristics that have defined its use. The investigation also delves into the analysis of prints that use new materials and formats, in addition to the paper, and how traditional printmaking methods are changing with the entry of “expanded printmaking”. Based on this premise, this article highlights the importance of technical knowledge and the choice of materials, seeking to make the artist, the researcher, and the collections aware of the importance of knowledge for the appreciation and preservation of the finished works.