Stanley William Hayter is without a doubt one of those who have had the greatest influence on the graphic arts of our century. He has been an innovator of the traditional graphic techniques, copper engraving and etching, and has been one of the pioneers for the development of graphics as a modern artistic medium, both on the technical and artistic level.

His workshop "Atelier 17" has become a term in our modern art history, the meaning of which is difficult to fully assess today. Throughout his long life, he has gathered around him several generations of employees and students. As a painter, graphic artist, teacher and writer, he has communicated his views, not only on the graphic medium as a means of artistic expression, but on the possibilities of the visual arts to concretize people's thoughts and feelings.

This exhibition shows the breadth of Hayter's artistic work. As an image creator, he has had an impact on several generations of artists in many countries. The section with his Norwegian students shows how widely this influence spans all areas of the visual arts.

Knut Berg, director of the National Gallery, Oslo