Prints I wish I had published

In 1969 Bernard Jacobson opened his first London gallery; a fourth-floor walk-up on Mount Street, Mayfair dealing in prints by international stars, including Warhol and Oldenburg, as well as publishing prints by leading British artists including Malcolm Morley and Robyn Denny. Printmaking fitted the radical, pop-sensibility of the time and Jacobson was part of that heady explosion of interest in the medium. While Jacobson would quickly go on to broaden the scope of the gallery, printmaking was its foundation and printmaking and print dealing remain at its heart. The gallery now holds the most comprehensive collection of Matisse prints of any commercial gallery in the world and regularly publishes and stages exhibitions of new print portfolios by artists including William Tillyer and Bruce McLean. As the gallery approaches its half-century in 2019, it is fitting that this landmark year opens with an ambitious 2-part exhibition exploring Jacobson’s personal and abiding love of prints and some of the remarkable works published by the gallery during an eventful 50 years in the business. For Jacobson, printmaking has always been more than just a more accessible medium for collectors, although that is also a legitimate part of its appeal. Printmaking is a dynamic, expressive and diverse medium which offers the artist unique scope for innovation and experimentation.