John Hall Thorpe: Flowerprints

John Hall Thorpe

(1874 Victoria - 1947 London)

Australian - English woodblock printer and painter

Marigolds

Finally, at last. Against the odds and better judgement. My first John Hall Thorpe. Probably the one and only. But the finest of his flowerprints I think. To own a fine print by one of the very "big" artists is great. This time not an investigation or reflection on his life or on his art. That's not for me. Has been done, the man has been world famous for almost a century. Controversial opinions too. Degraded as calender art by one, declared saint, overrated and overpriced by others. These Marigolds, in its original 1920's frame and perfect conservation and colors was offered nearby and what was more important: at an affordable price. Couldn't resist. No matter what others think I think it's marvellous.

I could not find an oversight of all (?) of his flowerprints on the www. So I build my privat collection of pictures. Woodblock-print pictures from artdealers, museum and auctionhouse cataloques. Sofar I found 17 in all. And two published prints from paintings by JHT.

Here they are, for my own recollection and for all to enjoy. Please send me others (or better ones) if they exist, and please send me the missing titles if you happen to know them.




L: Cowslips. R: Crocusus and snowdrops.



L: Panzies. R: Primroses.



L: Forget-me-nots. R: Pinks.



L: Unknown title. R: Unknown title.

Nasturtiums

Anemones

Sweet Peas

L: Pick of the Garden. R: Wild Flower Bunch

Flowers and Fruit

L: the Chinese vase. R: Summer Bunch





Also have I found these 2 published prints very similar to the woodblock designs. "From paintings by John Hall Thorpe".

L: "spring begins", R: "from the woods"


PS: Thank you Clive your expert opinion and discussions on your great Blog. It helped me very much.


September 20th 2010 I've added this flower print .

Note july 2011: as this posting is the most read on the Linosaurus I inform readers there has been updates and additions on JHT prints. For further reading and information:


http://gerrie-thefriendlyghost.blogspot.com/2010/12/john-hall-thorpes-childrens-painting.html

http://gerrie-thefriendlyghost.blogspot.com/2011/06/john-hall-thorpe-update.html

http://gerrie-thefriendlyghost.blogspot.com/2011/06/problems-commenting.html

http://gerrie-thefriendlyghost.blogspot.com/2011/07/janet-laura-scott-and-john-hall-thorpe.html

Alfred Feudel (1882 - 1974)

Alfred Feudel (1882, Leipzig - 1974 Kappel)

I think the combination of blue and orange is what kept my eyes fixed

on this Ebay offered print longer than usual. And the nocturnal scene. The longer I watched it, the more I became fascinated by this charming composition. 

Here's some research:

Shown is the "Nikolaikirche" in Dortmund (Germany) signed by artist: A. Feudel. Alfred Feudel, the City of Dortmund's archive director Mrs. Andrea Zupancic wrote to me after requesting information. In return she asked for a good scan for her City Archives. Which she ofcourse received.

It's undoubtedly Christmass eve (the clock showing 23.30h) and a crowd is gathering and entering the church. The new church was inaugurated october 12th 1930. Alfreds print showing some trees in front so a guess it's around 1935. 

Alfred Feudel born 23.03.1882 in Leipzig and died 29.06.1974 in Kappel entered the "Akademie der Bildenden Künste" in Munich oktober 30th 1907 and joined the "Zeichenschule Karl Raupp". Professor Karl Raupp (1837-1918) allready aged 71 when young Alfred started his course. Raupp published a book on the theoretics of painting, "Handbuch der Malerei", which saw a 4th ed. in 1904, his paintings displayed in several German Museums. 

In 1918 Alfred married Elfriede Thurau, daughter of a well to do Berlin family and who, in later life, became quite famous as founder and later Professor of "Rhytmische Music" (Rhytmic Gymnastics), moving and training the human body on music. Mother of modern Aerobics I gather. (I imagine black and white pictures of boys and girls in strait lines swaying with large ribbons). Alfred joined the "Westfälische Künstlerbunde" in Dortmund in 1927.

So far I haven't found any examples of other works by Alfreds hand. Which is remarkable considering this delicately and very skillfully executed woodblock print.

The Nicolai Kirche is a very early example of Das Neue Bauen. Build by archeticts Pino & Grund after winning a designing competition. It is the first steel, glas and cement/concrete build church in Germany located in Dortmund's "Kreuzviertel" close to the cities center. Dortmunds old city was destroyed 96% (!) in WW2. The church was also severely bombed and damaged but rebuild and with its 6 meters high, blue shining cross a dominating Dortmund landmark to this day.The revolutionary design was internationally praised and appreciated. 

Kreuzung Wittekindstrasse X Lindemannstrasse ca. 1935

For any further reading see : http://www.nicolai-kirche.de/

Alfreds interpretation is architecturally so accurate and detailed (compare the rooftops in the background) that I even suggest the stars could be correctly placed in the night sky too. Do I recognize Ursus Major to the left and Casiopeia in the right corner ? They are winterconstellations. And if that's Orion visible in the right upper corner (North-East) it might prove me right.

Edith Pijpers 1886-1963 (Updated 03-2011)

Edith Pijpers (1886-1963)

(dutch watercolor and oil painter, woodblock printer)

page from the sketchbook of Edith Pijpers

Edith Pijpers was born 1886 in Amsterdam and died 1963 Amersfoort. She was a very versatile artist. She studied at the "Teekenacademie" in The Hague, was trained and worked in watercolor and oil and also made woodcut prints. I've never seen or found any of her printwork.

But when I went to High School in Amerfoort in the 1960's I saw a page from a sketchbook for sale in a second hand bookshop window. A teenager still I bought it from my carwashing earnings. The little boy on wooden shoes was the first piece of "art" I bought in my life, is still with me and hangs in my study.

St. Ansfridus church in Amersfoort (Netherlands) by Edith Pijpers. The only church in the world dedicated to this Saint. On my way to High School I passed it many ears.

Saint Ansfried, Ansfridus or Aufridus (born ca. 940 - died may 3th 1010 in then convent of Hohorst near Amersfoort. A nobelman in the Holy Roman Empire. Untill 995 earl of Hoei, later bishop of Utrecht. Founder of the convents of Thorn (990) and Hohorst. Declared Saint, celibrated on the day of his death: May 3th.

These paintings in oil by Edith Pijpers have a very woodblock print atmosphere. Hopefully I'll find more examples of her prints one day.

Update 2011, march 29th:

This oilpainting was send march 29th by reader Bob Verheyden. Thank you for sharing.

J. Betz

J.Betz

Dutch printmaker

"Handdruk" around 1920-40 ?

(17 x 21 cm)

A fleemarket find. The new happy mat and the original frame maybe not to everyones taste. But you'll have to admit: it really draws attention. "Handdruk" suggesting a Dutch maker (In German it's spelled "Handdruck").

Not without skill and talent. However, the makers identity other than his or hers signature J.Betz, is enveloped in obscurity.

Ribbed glas vases by Art Deco glass designer A. D. Copier (1901-1991) became very fashionable in the Netherlands. And they stil are. They are of a timeless beauty. However I donot know of a round vase design by his hand. A contribution on his glass vases is in preparation.

In Germany two Art Deco (Bauhaus) glassartists designed these round vases: Richard Lauke and Wilhelm Wagenfeld (1900-1991) around 1939. It's really hard to see great differences. They are considered very collectible and are very much appriciated nowadays. A nice one, at auction, will set you back about $ 100 +. Combing fleemarket and carbootsales you can find one for 50p. Ebay is a good source too. But beware you'll find yourself not alone there.

Laukes design is called "Felicitas" and was manufactured (blown) by Glassfabrik Weisswasser, and Wagenfelds design "Kugelvase" or "Honeyjar vase" by the Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke. Maybe it was a joined venture.

model "Honeyjar"

model "Felicitas"

"Kugelvase" by Wilhelm Wagenfeld

more examples

This one, a Dutch designed ribbed vase, probably made by the Leerdam factories.

Janet S.C. Simpson

Janet S. C. Simpson

watercolor and etcher

"On the ramparts Bruges"

lithograph

Sometime ago I picked up this pretty lithograph. Janet Simpson wrote on a separate piece of paper that has been carefully preserved along with the print:

"Dear Florie, this is another reminicance of Bruges - that first morning when we were waiting for the Sluisboat. A lithograph - printed from four stones, one on top of the other - which accounts for the places where the colours don't quite fit.

Much love from Janet".

Staple Inn

etching

Janet Simspon exhibited between 1904 and 1938 at most major societies and galleries in England. She was a Bronze and Silver winner at the Royal College of Art. Studied art Lambeth and RCA.

Exhibited in Abbey Gallerie 54 times, Grosvenor 1, Walker Liverpool 19, Royal Academy 29, Royal Society of Painters and Etchers 49 and in the Royal Scottish Academy 7 times.

And yet I cannot find a single example of other works nor any biographical recordings.

Any information on Janet most welcomed.

Hertha Hoffmann-Rudolph

Hertha Hoffmann-Rudolph

German(?) Printmaker

"Stiefmütterchen" (stepmothers), viooltjes, violets

around 1920 ?

"Linolschnitt, Handdruck, getönt"

(Linocut, handpulled, colored)

A recent find and addition, this hand colored woodcut print by a probably German (Austrian) artist. Printed from only one (key)block. I was unsuccesfull finding any more on Hertha Hoffmann on the www.

Thea Gutmann-Voigt

Thea Gutmann-Voigt

German(?) printmaker.

Flieder

(Lilacs, Lilas, Seringen)

around 1934

A picture from a 2004 German auction cataloque. Papersize 30 x 40, picture 17,5 x 26 cm. Item: SOLD.

I tried Google but without any succes. I doubt this to be the only print she ever made ?