IL Bisonte

The International School of Printmaking Il Bisonte offers different courses for traditional printmaking techniques and it is dedicated to those who want to learn them by following the strict traditional Florentine Methods. It proposes students specialized classes and technical and practical workshops developed with a wide range of courses: from daily demonstrative ones up to specialized subjects all of which deepen the students knowledge and skills.

Il Bisonte was founded in 1959 as an art printing house and many artists, Italian and foreigners, have made their way to it: Picasso in 1960 printed here the only of his lithographs ever printed in Italy .

On the 4th of November 1966, the day of Florence’s inundation, Il Bisonte’s rooms were flooded by Arno river water and many pieces were ruined or lost: many artists sprang to its aid for reconstruction including Henry Moore, who realized many pritns about human figure still famous nowadays.

In 1983 Il Bisonte became a no profit Cultural Center and later opened an Institute in Palazzo
Serristori former stables, inaugurating the International School for Printmaking, that currently welcomes students from many foreign countries.

Il Bisonte is now a foundation and its activity is still functioning as a Printmaking Specializing School and Cultural Center, Printing House and Gallery. One of the projects for its future is to continue teaching traditional printmaking techniques, to open some artist in residence programs.

Il Bisonte’s aim is, in fact, to keep alive all traditional and historical printmaking that are thought in the school such as, but not limited to: drypoint, etching, aquatint, engraving, mezzotint, softground.