Printmaking rose to prominence at the same time as the printing press was invented and economic conditions were improving for most people in Western Europe. Artists began marketing their work directly to the general population, rather than only to the wealthy and powerful. Because of these beginnings, do you feel that printmaking is an art form that can be associated more with particular social and political environments than others? Is the commercial aspect of printmaking an important cultural consideration? How do the commercial and social implications of printmaking relate to contemporary American culture?