Snippet 01

// WP_Query arguments
$args = array(
	'post_type'              => array( 'publication' ),
	'post_status'            => array( 'publish' ),
	'date_query'             => array(
		'relation' => 'AND',
		array(
			'year'          => 2017,
			'compare'       => '<=',
			'column'        => 'post_date',
		),
	),
);

// The Query
$query = new WP_Query( $args );

// The Loop
if ( $query->have_posts() ) {
	while ( $query->have_posts() ) {
		$query->the_post();
		// do something
	}
} else {
	// no posts found
}

// Restore original Post Data
wp_reset_postdata();