In the history of intaglio printmaking, two names reign supreme: Albrecht Dürer and Rem- brandt van Rijn. Their exploration and innovation led the way for countless others, providing an essential map to what was then largely uncharted terrain. The development of this art form, in which designs are incised into the surface of metal, was filled with unexpected turns, some gentle and others quite radical, so the guidance of these two masters proved invaluable. Their pioneering efforts resulted in extraordinary achievements in printmaking.

Engraving was first used as a means of decorating arms and armor in ancient times; however, in the 15th century a fascination with printmaking began and engraving provided a vital avenue for its expression. In the early days, it was often used to promote artists by sending copies of their new paintings to audiences throughout Europe; however, it later evolved into an important tool for the creation of unique works. Artists such as Martin Schongauer began experimenting with engraving in order to produce original prints of fine quality, but it was Albrecht Dürer who truly transformed it into a medium for high artistic expression. His desire to move beyond the two dimensional look of intaglio prints, and thus to create more realistic imagery, was accomplished through a scientific examination of perspective, the use of refined shading to create dimension, and a greater accuracy in depicting the natural world based on clear observation. Those same skills extended to Dürer's work with woodcuts, in which he attained equally impressive results.

One hundred years after the death of Dürer, Rembrandt began his tremendous exploration of etching and it was a technique that would occupy him for the rest of his life. His passion was so great that he produced almost 300 etchings over a period of 35 years, and in fact, they were largely responsible for his international acclaim. Rembrandt's expressive use of chiaroscuro and cross-hatching led to the creation of prints in which the dramatic effects were equal to that of his paintings. Connoisseurs found them so enthralling that there was fierce competition to own every state of each etching, thereby having a visual record of all the changes the artist had made. That same dedication exists with collectors today, as Rembrandt's etchings are still considered the finest in the history of art.

For this special exhibition, we have assembled an outstanding collection of works by both Dürer and Rembrandt, and we are honored to have the insights of Gary Schwartz, the esteemed Rem- brandt scholar, in an essay created for the occasion. We hope you will enjoy The Line of Inspira- tion: Master Prints from Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt van Rijn.