Participation in the Lecture Series “From the Printing Press to the Library” at the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation

Andreas Fatouros, Konstantinos Houlis and Maria Genitsariou, founding members of Triton & Shell – Paper Art Hub, participated in the second lecture series organised by the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, “From the Printing Press to the Library – Old Books, New Stories”, presenting different aspects of the history and materiality of the book.

Three founding members of Triton & Shell – Paper Art Hub participated in the second lecture series “From the Printing Press to the Library – Old Books, New Stories”, organised by the Historical Library of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation from February to March 2026.

The series focused on the materiality and production of the book, drawing on rare and valuable objects from the Historical Library’s collections and exploring themes related to paper, bookbinding, typography and illustration.

“From the Sheet to the Book: The Birth of European Handmade Paper”

On 17 February 2026, Andreas Fatouros, conservator of archival and library materials and founder of Triton & Shell, presented the lecture “From the Sheet to the Book: The Birth of European Handmade Paper.”

The presentation traced the journey of paper from China to Europe and focused on the origins and development of European hand papermaking, its raw materials and its most significant technological innovations, from the Middle Ages to the beginnings of industrial production.

The lecture was followed by a demonstration of traditional hand papermaking, together with a presentation of selected historical papermaking tools from the Triton & Shell collection and representative editions from the Historical Library featuring European watermarks.

▶ Watch the lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IxSmOSX4Dbs?si=S4X57HafONYRsUeE

“A Noble Material: Parchment”

On 10 March 2026, Konstantinos Houlis, Emeritus Professor at the Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art at the University of West Attica and a founding member of Triton & Shell, presented the lecture “A Noble Material: Parchment. Typologies and Examples of Parchment Bindings in the Collections of the Historical Library.”

The presentation focused on the historical development of parchment, from its widespread use as a writing support in manuscript books to its gradual adoption as a bookbinding material following the establishment of printing in Europe.

Drawing on examples from the Historical Library’s collections, the lecture presented different types of parchment bindings, construction and decoration techniques, as well as the distinctive durability and behaviour of this historic material.

▶ Watch the lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Vuobv1SqYtg?si=_Hjc9AT_FZoNX83F

“Colouring the Colourless: Hand-Colouring of Prints, 16th–19th Centuries”

On 17 March 2026, visual artist, calligrapher and researcher Maria Genitsariou, a founding member of Triton & Shell, presented the lecture “Colouring the Colourless: Hand-Colouring of Prints, 16th–19th Centuries. Methods and Techniques.”

The presentation focused on the hand-colouring of printed images in books and maps, from the emergence of printing through to the 19th century. It introduced the pigments, materials and tools used during the period, their origins, methods of preparation and application, as well as the different techniques employed in the hand-colouring of prints.

The lecture also included a practical demonstration of hand-colouring a print using historical pigments, employing materials, tools and techniques comparable to those used during the period. The demonstration allowed the audience to observe in practice how a monochrome printed image could be transformed into a coloured one.

▶ Watch the lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cnO4lMp2AaA?si=TX0QG8QbZ0W1_GUz

The participation of Triton & Shell members in the series highlighted three distinct yet closely interconnected areas of the organisation’s research and activities: paper and the history of its production, the materials and structures of the historical book, and traditional techniques of writing, colour and illustration.

The collaboration with the Historical Library of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation also provided an opportunity to connect historical collections and research with practical knowledge of the materials and techniques underlying the making and history of the book.