The print collection covers works in all print mediums with a thematic and subject emphasis on blacks from the late eighteenth to the twentieth century. The collection of prints is divided into two parts. The first grouping, referred to as "Pre-Twentieth Century Prints", consists of images directly referring to slavery and its abolition in the Americas, Caribbean and Africa, the depiction of blacks, genre scenes, studies of models and objective likenesses of individuals. The second group represent prints made between the beginning of the Twentieth Century to the present. Among these are over seven hundred prints created primarily by African American artists, in addition to prints by African, Latin American, and Caribbean artists. The greater proportion of prints in this second grouping are by artists of the Works Projects Administration (WPA). Urban genre themes and descriptions of African American life dominate the work from this period. There are also several non-figurative and abstract works from the 1930s forward. This includes portfolios and works covering artistic styles and movements up to the 1960s. Pre-Twentieth Century Prints are arranged by subjects such as: portraits, slave trade, description and travel, i.e., Africa, the Caribbean and South America; Afro-American social life and customs, etc. Twentieth Century material is arranged by name of artists.
Donor/Sponsor
Schomburg NEH Automated Access to Special Collections Project.
Access to the collection is by appointment only and is restricted to qualified and experienced researchers.
Cite as (note)
From the collection of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library, Astor Lenox & Tilden Foundation, Arts & Artifacts Division.
Terms of use (note)
Works from the collection may be borrowed for exhibition purposes. Photography of art or artifacts in the collection is prohibited. In most instances, prints of collection items are available for sale to researchers. Permission for loans and to reproduce prints for publication must be obtained in writing.
Linking entry (note)
Forms part of the Works on Paper Collection.
Title
Print collection [graphic].
Imprint
<1800-1990.>
Access
Access to the collection is by appointment only and is restricted to qualified and experienced researchers.
Cite as:
From the collection of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library, Astor Lenox & Tilden Foundation, Arts & Artifacts Division.
Terms of use
Works from the collection may be borrowed for exhibition purposes. Photography of art or artifacts in the collection is prohibited. In most instances, prints of collection items are available for sale to researchers. Permission for loans and to reproduce prints for publication must be obtained in writing.
Linking entry
Forms part of the Works on Paper Collection.
Local note
Individual print collections described separately.