A02. DHUB Museums
Gabinet de les Arts Gràfiques
History
In 1942 the Museu d’Arts, Indústries i Tradicions Populars created a department of popular engraving using the wood engraving blocks the Junta de Museus had brought together before the war. Located in Montjuïc’s Poble Espanyol, this embryonic museum began to expand its radius of operation and, in 1968, adopted the name of Secció de Gravat i Arts Gràfiques, with a growing contribution of diverse materials (machines, moulds and blocks and printed material). In 1974 it was given the name of the Museu del Llibre i de les Arts Gràfiques and housed of an active print shop.
Currently, as part of Disseny Hub Barcelona, its collections have been moved to the reserve storerooms of the Palau de Pedralbes.
The collections
Although the origins of its collections of graphic arts were based on popular wood engravings, the museum widened the scope of its collections with donations, acquisitions and loans of machinery, moulds and printed material. Major sector firms, like the printers Elzeviriana, Bobes, Seix Barral and Tobella, Naips Comas the makers of playing cards, Tallers Roca the industrial bookbinders and the Neufville type foundry, have contributed to the museum’s expanding resources, as have certain artists and their families, who have donated graphic works and engraving moulds – as is the case of Miquel Plana and the families of Josep Obiols and Miquel Llovet.
Moulds
Just as machinery has been relocated to centres specialising in the printing process – the Sala Temàtica d’Arts Gràfiques of Lérida’s Provincial Council and the Museu de la Impremta i l’Obra Gràfica (Valencia) – the Gabinet holds in its collections both moulds (an important subject area in graphic arts design as it shows the different type faces used) and the final product, that is to say, the printed materials.
The museum possesses the three main forms of engraved moulds: wooden engraving blocks, chalcographic plates and lithographic stones, as well as a variety of materials relating to printing (punches and moulds), both in lead and wood.
Graphic products
The museum’s collection is made up of various types of printed works: popular and religious pictures, artists engravings and books, posters, playing cards, greeting cards, bookplates, picture cards, labels, wrapping paper, wallpaper and, of course, books and magazines, as well as flyleafs, book covers and pattern books.
The collection holds a variety of important works by modern-day graphic designers, such as Peret, América Sánchez, Pilar Villuendas and Javier Mariscal.
- Posters. Gabinet de les Arts Gràfiques collection
This collection focuses on Spanish posters. This is an open resource that will expand with new acquisitions. Currently, the collection holds 1,150 pieces, giving a good overview of the 20th century and linking with contemporary examples of this art form.
Includes notable pieces by such well-known poster designers as Josep Triadó, José Segrelles, Rafael de Penagos and Manolo Prieto. Recent additions include over 850 posters donated by major contemporary designers.
Poster "Excursionistes sigueu prudents amb el foc"