Mildred Collyer: Flowerprints

Mildred Helen Collyer

(1872 - 1955)

exhibited 1894 - 1931

British painter and linocutprinter.

Vase of (spring) Flowers I ca. 1920's

Vase of (summer) Flowers II ca. 1920's.

I found these two flowerbouquets linocut prints on japanese paper in the The Papa, Museum of New Zealand. They were a gift to the museumcollection from Rex Nen Kivell in 1951.

In a Surrey (GB) artgallery this watercolor by Mildred Collyer was exhibited.

The "Sandcart" (watercolor)

Edgar Holloway, Chrysanthemums

Edgar Holloway

(1914-2008)

(English graphic and portrait artist, painter)

AND woodblockprinter

"Chrysanthemums in stonewear vase"

Like my misreading also just one letter, creating such difficulties in finding F. Tidemand Johannesson in my previous posting, this lovely woodcut of Chrysanthemums in a vase was only unveiled and exposed after the auction-cataloque-makers mistake: she mistyped or misread: Edgar Halloway as the maker of this print. I have never seen it before, so a rare find ? Even if it's only a picture.
http://www.clivechristy.com/2010/06/edgar-holloway-1914-2008.html

Thanks again Clive !

Charles Lederer and Serendipity

Charles Lederer

(1912 - Springfield 1985)

Artist, woodblockprinter, chili-restaurant owner.

"Ferns and Ivy", woodblock-print signed and dated 10/59, no.13/20

(15" x 21,5", papersize 19"x 26,5")

When I discovered this print, subject, colors and perspective, it instantly reminded me of the palette and compositions of Australian printmaker Cressida Campbell (1960- )

"The Veranda" by Cressida Campbell

How this American print ended up in Germany I have no idea. It was love on first site from my part so I could not resist buying it. Had to have it. And it is interesting enough to appear as guest of honour on my Blog. I think.

It's not in pristine condition but that (some matline, foxing and staining) was allready noticed and written on the back when in 1961 this print was exhibited in the 21th Annual Color Print Exhibition of the American Color Print Society. Also earlier matting has been a bit narrow. Bit with respect to a, or possibly more previous lives, restoration isn't necessary to enjoy the craftsmanship and aesthetic modernistic composition.

one of the many famous films "other Charles" directed.

 

Researching the artist Charles Lederer on the Internet is very much obstructed by this other and namesake Charles Lederer (1910-1967) who was a rather important Holywood film writer and director in the 1930-50's. Almost 100% hits on this "other Charles".

Serendipity ?

Casper's chili restaurant , 100 years in Springfield.

This is the worldfamous-in-Springfield (Mo, US) chili-restaurant Casper's. It was started in 1909 by Casper Lederer (1884-1972) a former sheetmusic seller and run by his son Charles after Casper died in 1972. Besides famous for its chili it's also known for its collection of art (woodblockprints) on all walls and by the hand of owner/artist Charles Lederer. My family name (which is not all that common) on Charles' shed. Coincidence ?

This second woodblockprint (sold for $ 325) is all I was able to find on the artistic output of Charles Lederer. In both cases edition-numbers are low (15 and 20). Charles was married to English professor Dr. Kathy Gay-Lederer and died (he ended his own life) in 1985.

"Bowl", woodblock-print, signed and dated 18-4-1955, no. 6/15.

Charles Lederer wrote two books on drawing, one still available (reprint via Amazon) today.

As always, all information is welcomend !

Katherine H. MacDonald

Katherine H. MacDonald

(british ?) printmaker

This is probably one of the nicest but enigmatic pictures I have ever found on the Internet. A lady in the USA (thank you Maure !) had found it before me on the Internet. I've not been able to locate where it came frome sofar. And I tried hard.
I love Gingerjars and I love Nasturtiums. It also put me up with a very unknown woodblock printmaker. There is nothing at all to be found on (non paying) internet sites or what so ever. No details on her life, no other works but the following 3 pictures I came across in old auction cataloques. (The last 2 of rather poor quality)

"Cup of Gold", 10" x 8"

So: any information on Katharine H. would be very welcome.

H. Prausnitz-Sagert, a better candidate ?

H. Prausnitz-Sagert

(active around 1920 ?)

German printmaker

"Yellow Roses in Green vase"

Signed lower right: "Original Holzschnitt Handdruck". Signature Lower left.

The composition, perspective, the rendering of the vases' shadow and background showing similarities. I think my NOID print was rudely taken out a frame or was cut from a glued board surface to this new format.
The Internet not giving any further clues to this German printmaking lady. Nor any other work.

Else von Schmiedeberg - Blume

Else von Schmiedeberg - Blume

(1876 Worbis, Sachsen - after 1927 )

German portrait and landscape painter, woodblock- and linoleumprinter

Tulips in a vase, copy of a linoleumprint from the "Zeitschrift für bildende Kunst".

Not much is to be found about Else's life and works on the www. An occasional auction entry, not much more.

I learned she was trained in Leipzig Artschool and visited Artschools in Münich and Paris. She wrote a "Handbuch und Lehrkursus für die Kunst des Malens".

It was proposed to consist of 3 Volumes as she points out in the introduction of Vol I. It was published in Berlin in 1927 and dealing with the basics of technic and composition. Volumes II and III not to be found. Not even consulting Bookfinder.com. Somewhere I've read a year of her (supposed) death: 1927. That would explain maybe the reason the project wasn't completed. I have'nt been able to confirm this date.

Else states in the introduction that her Handbook was to be used as an active working book, and therefore it was published in 6 separate volumes in a dustcover with broadmargined pages "allowing to add notes etc.." allong the course.

Here are some illustrations by Else from Vol I.

(drawing on black paper, it could be a view on the Alster, Hamburg)

some proof of her skills and travelling Europe.

Besides the Red Tulips I am the proud owner of a really beautifull: "Originallinoleumschnitt Handdruck" by Else Schmiedeberg-Blume

How I became owner, after disaster in the German Postal Services, is another story but 3 monts after conclusion of the the deal with the elderly German couple that wanted to dispose of it (?) it is finally hanging rematted and reframed on my wall. It's one of the highlights of my collection (thank you Clive).

signed: "Originallinoleumschnitt Handdruck"
picture size 40 x 54 cm (!)

Amazingly only 4 colors (2 oranges, a blue and a red) were used to create this wonderfull impressionistic flowerprint. Suggesting the browns and greens and creating light and dark and depth, executed so clever. The very lean layers of paint, after some 90 years, still strong and vibrant.

Examples of two more linoleumprints by Else (courtesy of Clive, Art and the Aestethe,see also:

http://www.clivechristy.com/2009/04/few-of-my-favourite-things.html)

Any further information and pictures of Else's works would be very welcomed.

Margaret Jordan Patterson: Flowerprints 2

Margaret Jordan Patterson

(1867 Soerabaja - 1950 Boston)

American Painter and woodblock printmaker

White Dogwood

After showing the vertically designed woodblock prints in Part 1, here are all pictures of horizontally designed prints I have found sofar. Please help me if you know of any others, correct titles and add year of make if you happen to know these details. I cannot imagine to present a complete oversight. I am but a humble enthousiast without and any scolarly intentions.

Heartseaze

Poppies and Convulvulas

Spring Flowers

Bleeding Heart

Pink Dogwood

Petunias

Margaret Jordan Patterson: Flowerprints 1

Margaret Jordan Patterson

(1867 Soerabaja - 1950 Boston)

American painter and woodblock printer.

White Dogwood 1950 , Margarets last woodblock print.

To my knowledge there is no book covering the life and art of the "Master of Color, Light and Design. Very popular and appreciated once, collected, and presented in many museums, forgotten later and a new interest and revival after 1980. I learned a lot reading this very informative article by Cindy Nickerson: http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/7aa/7aa4.htm.

The purpose of this posting is to bring together the flower woodblock-prints for personal reference, recollection und fun. Without any further pretensions.

Poppies.

I learned that "White Dogwood" was the last print Margaret was working on at the time of her death in 1950. I have no idea of any chronology in all the other prints. Just one is dated: foxgloves, 1921. This Part 1 will show the vertically designed prints, Part 2 will show the horizontal designs. Just for page make-up reasons.


L: Zinnias, R: Hollyhocks


L: Summerflowers. L: the White Rose

L: Unknown. L: Zinnias

L: Morning Glories. R: Foxgloves, 1921

Compare the 3 prints with a black background with earlier posted flower prints by John Hall Thorpe and Thomas Todd Blaylock.

Painting, oil, (summerflowers ?)

Hugh Wallis: Flowerprints

Hugh Wallis

(1871 Kettering - 1943)

English coppersmith, painter and woodblock printmaker.

Roaming the Internet, trying to learn and take max. advantage of the infinite possibilities, occasionally you come across some unexpected finds. Flower woodblock-prints from the Arts and Crafts period have my deepest interest. Just read my earlier posts.

Within the genre I like most the "simple" renderings with the very Western black keyblock's surrounding line.

And then one day you find an artist that explored this artform, made some pretty wonderfull and amazingly delicate prints and then seems to have left it alltogether to become very famous in a totally other medium. Ofcourse Hugh Wallis is best remembered as the most wonderfull English Arts and Crafts coppersmith.

Besides Gustave Baumann (1881-1971), whoms work (without even looking at his pictures) is easilly recognizable by the very distinctive border-design (dots), Hugh Wallis is the only printer who comes to my mind designing the outer margins of the print, matching and integrated in the design. Framing his composition indiviually. It works great with the square design which he seems to have sticked to (like William Nicholson did)

They look deceptively simple, amateurish even. They aren't. Here is a very talented, selfconfident and very original printing artist. Why he left woodblock printing to become an even more famous and recognized leading Arts and Crafts coppersmith .....................?

Just and only 4 I found to this day. Hugh' Wallis's prints rarely turn up at auctions in England but helas; they are above my financial possibilities. On one ocasion the cataloque describing the items as "possibly embroidery patterns". Some-one knew better, they were sold at rare woodblock-print prices. Imagine this: having grandma's embroidery framed and throwing away the "design".

Having discovered and knowing them, not able ever to forget them, is a real privilege.

Thomas Todd Blaylock: Flowerprints

Thomas Todd Blaylock

(1876 Dumfries, Scotland - 1929 Salisbury)

English painter and woodblockprinter.

-- Contemporain of John Hall Thorpe --

A collection of his flower woodblock printings. Pictures collected from museum, auctionhouse and gallery cataloques. His art, most of his prints published in the 1920's, very similar in style and execution to Hall Thorpe's. It is not ment to be complete, put together for recollection purpouses only. Maybe you can help sending me others, if they exist.

"Delphiniums", in glass vase and in a red earthenware vase.



L: "Nasturtiums",  R: "California poppies"(printed on silk)

"Kingcups" (printed on slik)

Chrysantemums in a decorated vase.

Polyanthus in a jug

Daffodils in a gray vase.

Bluebells in a glass

Anemones in a pot.

And one example of a watercolor by Thomas Todd Blaylock:

Sweet peas in a ribbed glass vase

Thank you Clive for borrowing and all the good Blogg reading on Blaylock and Hall Thorpe.