"Although this history of the monotype is the first exhaustive study of this nature to be published in Italy, it forms part of a critical literature that has long been firmly established in other countries. In it Carla Esposito Hayter illustrates the primary characteristics of this technique, which has enjoyed considerable success amongst art critics and collectors over the last thirty years." "The monotype is a wholly unique work comparable to a painting, drawing or mixed technique. Due to its historical development, it maintains a link with the original art print solely in terms of their shared use of tools such as presses, inks, plates, rollers and paper. This is, however, the only connection with the multiple work of graphic art, since the monotype is not produced by means of a matrix available for reuse at the artist's discretion and hence cannot be replicated. With respect to the unique work, it also possesses an element of originality due to the relationship established between the fortuitous workings of chance and the control exercised by the artist within the sphere of the variety of forms of execution peculiar to contemporary art."--Jacket.