Imitative Reproduction

Over a relatively short period of history,copied objects have become prevalent in almost every aspect of people’s everyday lives.While reproductions have made it easier to disseminate ideas,they have also been considered to have a lesser value than the original.This thesis investigates the relationship of the copy to the original through a historical perspective with a focus on printmaking.By examining this relationship,the study attempts to bring a more nuanced perspective to the way in which reproduction can be viewed.The paper gives a brief introduction to mimesis and the origin of the term “copy”.It then goes through three studies of artists who have been chosen for the way in which they have interacted with the act of copying and the original in their printed work.These artists and their practices are considered in conjunction with the writings of a selection of philosophers and writers who have inquired into the idea of the original,the copy,and the medias in which reproduction can occur.