Through his friend and fellow Painters Eleven member Oscar Cahen, Town was introduced to printmaking and in 1953 purchased a lithography press and stone, embarking on creating a series of Single Autographic Prints that would establish him as one of Canada’s most significant modern, abstract artists. Each unique print is comprised of purposeful and unintentional shapes created by using household objects and multiple overprinting on each work. This technique created compositions of incredible complexity and rich colouration.

First exhibited at the Roberts Gallery in Toronto in 1954, works were immediately purchased for the collections of the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario. By 1956 the National Gallery selected Town to represent Canada at the Venice Biennale.

The Single Autographic Print launched Town’s career as an internationally recognized artist.

This 1957 example shows Town’s remarkable handing of a limited colour palette of black, and dark grey, blue and green underneath hints of pink that define the interconnected shapes.