Unesco travelling print exhibition: From impressionism till today

G o v e r n m e n t D e p a r t m e n t s , e d u c a t i o n a l a n d c u l t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s desiring F 0 R E ' N 0 R D d u p l i c a t e s e t s of t h e p r i n t s c o n t a i n e d in t h i s e x h i b i t i o n m a y o b t a i n t h e m at special r a t e s t h r o u g h Unesco. Co r r e s p o n d e n c e s h o u l d b e a d d r e s s e d t o t h e D i r e c t o r -Ge n c r a l , Unesco, 19 Av e n u e R l é b c r , P a r i s (16), m a r k e d , a t t e n t i o n : D e p a r t m e n t o f Cultural Activities, P r i n t Exhibitions. T h e a t t e n t i o n of e d u c a t o r s , s t u d e n t s a n d m e mb e r s of t h e g e n e r a l public is also d r a w n t o t h e Un e s c o c a t a l o g u e of c o l ou r r e p r o d u c t i o n s , t h e first volume of wh i c h is t o b e p u b l i s h e d before t h e e n d of 1949. T h i s c a t a l o g u e is designed t o m a k e h i g h q u a l i t y p r i n t s mo r e easily a v a i l a b l e , a n d t o t h i s e n d , lists pub- lishers a n d prices, i n a d d i t i o n t o o t h e r information. T h i s e x h i b i t i o n o f c o l ou r r e p r o d u c t i o n s is t h e f i r s t o f i t s t y p e t o b e prepared b y Unesco. Confined t o a r t i s t s w h o h a v e m a d e s i g n i f i c a n t contributions t o wo r l d a r t since 1860, i t a t t e m p t s t o i l l u s t r a t e i m p o r t a n t t r e n d s i n painting f r o m Imp r e s s i o n i sm till t h e p r e s e n t d a y . I n a n y e x h i b i t i o n r e s t r i c t e d by n e c e s s i t y t o a m a x i m u m o f 50 p a i n t i n g s , t h e wo r k s o f s ome i m p o r t a n t artists will i n e v i t a b l y b e lacking. T h i s is e v e n m o r e t h e case i n a n e x h i b i t i o n of r e p r o d u c t i o n s , a s t h e r e a r e n u m e r o u s g r e a t a r t i s t s w h o h a v e b e e n reproduced i n a d e q u a t e l y o r n o t a t all. However, in spite of these limitations, i t is b e l i e v e d t h a t t h i s exhibition will be of great assistance to students, educators and the general public in their study of the development of painting over t he greater pa r t of the last century—of assistance particularly in countries where museums and cultural institutions lack comprehensive collections of original works of this period. I t is realized t h a t reproductions, however technically good, cannot be equal to originals, b u t for many millions of people living far from the world's a r t centres they are essential to a greater understanding and appreciation of the world's a r t heritage. I n presenting the exhibition, Unesco expresses no preference for any particular artist, school or trend, b u t merely aims a t making more widely- known the work of artists who have etasblished their permanent place in the history of art. The reproductions included form the first selection to be made from the Unesco Archive, which is now being created to include all available high quality colour reproductions of important periods and phases of painting. This archive is being built up with the active co-operation of nicinbers of the International Council of Museums, and Unesco wishes t o t h a nk in particular M. Rene' Huyghe, Conservateur en Chef du départemcnt des Peintures et des Dessins an Musée d u Louvre, both for t he introduction to this catalogue and for his assistance in assembling the exhibition itself. I t is intended t h a t this exhibition will be followed b y o t h e r s d e v o t e d to other important periods of art. 2 3