The Printing Press in Renaissance Europe

Johannes Gutenberg created the concept of movable type and the printing press to Europe. Without books and computers you wouldn't be able to learn, to pass on information, or to share scientific discoveries.In 1450, Gutenberg combined existing technologies from China and with his own inventions to come up with the printing press. One important component was the movable type. Instead of using wooden blocks to press ink onto paper, he used movable metal pieces to create pages more quickly. Gutenberg produced many innovations allowing for pages to be printed much more quickly. His printing presses could print about 1,000 pages a day, compared to only around 40-50 pages with the older methods. The printing press paved the way for the middle class to have access to books for the first time in European history.Knowledge and education spread throughout the continent like never before. The invention of the printing press spread rapidly throughout Europe,paving the way for the Renaissance's spread out of Italy into the rest of Europe. The printing press is considered to be the most important invention in modern times. What important innovation did Johannes Gutenberg create that enabled the printing press to quickly create new pages? Wooden blocks Laser toner Moveable type Copy and paste True or False: The printing press is considered one of the most important inventions in modern times. TRUE FALSE What year did Johannes Gutenberg begin to print using the new printing press? 1450 1500 1680 1992 Oil Painting Italian Renaissance artists expressed themselves in sculpture and painted using fresco, a method that involves adding pigments mixed with water to wet plaster, and tempera, a method of painting in which pigments are mixed with egg to produce paint. The artists north of Italy started using oil-based paints. Oil painting gave artists the tools they needed to use a greater variety of colors which gave them the ability to paint more realistic scenes. The paintings below demonstrate the subtle differences in color and shades of light and dark that can be achieved using oil-based paints. 1. Based on the text and images above, how did art in northern Europe differ from art in Italy during the Renaissance? Religious and Secular Topics Like Renaissance artists in Italy, northern European artists depicted both religious and secular scenes. A section of The Ghent Altarpiece (1430-1432) painted byJan van Eyck and Hubert van Eyck, depicting God, the Virgin Mary, and John the Baptist. Pieter Brueghel the Elder, a Dutch artist, painted scenes of everyday life for peasants. The Dutch Proverbs, 1559. 2. Based on the text and images above, how was art in northern Europe and Italy similar during the Renaissance? Mass Production Using the Printing Press In 1450, Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press. That technology soon caught on and was used by artists in northern Europe as well as writers. Artists found success in creating woodblock engravings, then hiring printers to make copies of them, so artists could sell them for a profit. One of the most success artists of the time was Albrecht Dürer. In addition to being an accomplished oil painter, Dürer was also a master engraver. He created carefully etched wood-blocks of religious and secular subjects. He was also one of the first artists to “brand” his artwork. Every Dürer print had his mark, his initials with the A over the D, on it so purchasers knew it was authentic.One of Dürer’s most famous engravings is the depiction of an Indian Rhinoceros pictured below. In 1515, for the first time since the Roman Empire, a Rhinoceros was brought to Europe. It was shipped from India for the King of Portugal and displayed for the public. Dürer never saw the animal but instead based his drawing on another person’s description. Dürer’s depiction of the rhinoceros was incredibly popular and was circulated throughout Europe. For centuries it appeared in science texts and student textbooks until another rhinoceros was brought to the continent in 1751. Though Dürer’s illustration has errors, like the horn on the animal’s back, it demonstrates the influential power of art and printing through its ability to shape how Europeans imagined one animal for hundreds of years. The Rhinoceros, wood-block engraving, Albrecht Dürer, 1515. 3. What technology expanded the influence of artists and writers in northern Europe during the Renaissance? 4. What does the story of Dürer’s Rhinoceros tell you about northern Europe during the 1500s, and the impact of the printing press on art and the communication of knowledge? In addition to the visual arts, music experienced a rebirth during the Renaissance and was especially prominent in England and northern Europe. Composers like Guillaume Du Fay (1397–1474) and Josquin des Prez (ca. 1450–1521) were employed by wealthy nobles and royalty to write religious and secular music for their courts. The trade between northern Europe, Italy, and Spain created a European musical culture that had not existed before. In addition, composers made use of the new printing technology to produce copies of their sheet music and distribute them for money. 5. What effect did the printing press have on music during the Renaissance? William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Watch Simple Show Foundation’s video “William Shakespeare- In a Nutshell” and answer the accompanying questions. Title page of the First Folio, by William Shakespeare, with copper engraving of the author by Martin Droeshout, 1623. This was the first collection of Shakespeare's work that was printed after his death. 6. Who was William Shakespeare? 7. Why were Shakespeare’s plays so popular? 8. What influence has Shakespeare had on modern culture? Which of the following best describes the impact of the printing press on Europe? More people were able to gain knowledge and become educated The economy suffered as traditional printers were put out of business There was less scientific discovery and experiments None of the above