Printing Darkness surveys the fundamental role of “darkness” in printmaking from the 16th century to the present day. At its most basic level, printmaking relies on the contrast between dark and light. Each technique approaches this dynamic differently, from the strong contrasts possible in woodcut to the feathery marks of etching.
The installation, organized in collaboration with the Yale Center for British Art to mark its recent reopening, features prints by more than 40 artists, including Rembrandt, Francisco Goya, Jean Dubuffet, and Kiki Smith. The works portray moments of shadow, twilight, and gloom to explore atmospheres ranging from the menacing and mysterious to the tranquil and spiritual. They reveal that it is only in darkness that light can become fully apparent, whether as literal illumination or as a metaphor of inspiration, clarity, and resistance.
Read more about the installation in the fall 2025 magazine (PDF).
Printing Darkness is on view on the Gallery’s fourth floor from June 20 through December 7, 2025.