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Cultural Context

contemporary art

Description

Rectangular shaped print detailing the back view of large caribou with lowered antlered head. The coat is black and light brown, the antlers are dark brown. Stamped name of artist in Inuit syllabics, Cape Dorset stylized 'red igloo' seal in lower corner on right. Below image from side on left: "Caribou stonecut 86/200 Dorset 1977 Kananginak." At lower side on right Canadian Eskimo Arts Council's and Cape Dorset's blind embossed stamps. At lower edge on right portfolio stamp.

Narrative

The Dorset Cooperative follows Japanese tradition, where printmaking specialists assume responsibility for the print, rather than the artist supervising all aspects of the process. The earliest prints were stone cut and stencil. Copperplate engraving dominated by the early 1960's, with a continuation of printing. Lithographs were introduced in 1972. Artist followed by printmaker when 2 names are given in the artist/maker field. Part of a portfolio of 6 prints entitled 'Eskimos and their Art', created for the World Wildlife Fund in 1977.

History Of Use

Contemporary Inuit prints were first produced at Cape Dorset in 1957. Although precursors to printmaking can be seen in women's skin applique work and in men's incising of ivory, stone and bone, the impetus for printmaking was as a commercial venture. This venture was established jointly by Inuit artists and John Houston, the civil administrator for Cape Dorset. Other Inuit communities quickly followed the commercial success of Cape Dorset's West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative. Printmaking developed as a communal activity following a Japanese, rather than a Western, model of serigraph production. Each year the cooperatives produce a series of limited edition prints which are sold in the retail art market. In 1965, the Canadian Eskimo Arts Council was established from the Canadian Eskimo Art Committee to ensure high standards were maintained. Printmaking, along with stone carving, provide cash income for communities which have undergone rapid and significant change, during the late 20th century, from traditional hunting based societies to settled communities dependent on consumer goods. The prevalent images depicted in Inuit art are of traditional life, arctic animals and mythology. Recently, contemporary subjects have been depicted by a minority of artists.