The evolution of a spontaneous mode of expression and the rewards of personal collecting

The inventive exhibit "Paper Pleasures" features drawings owned by University of South Carolina faculty members and by the South Caroliniana Library. While the show examines the evolution of an artistic genre, it calls attention to the fact that the enjoyment, and ownership, of art need not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy.

Paper Pleasures, the accompanying catalog, presents the exhibit's seventy-two pieces in a "viewer friendly" format, describing the background of each artist and the cultural context of each work. The volume includes pieces by such well-known drafts people as Frans Floris, Andrea Sacchi, and Cy Twombly; drawings by artists commonly associated with other media.

Charles R. Mack is professor of art history at the University of South Carolina.