last finds and NOID (5)

?

This woodblock-print went up for sale many many times on Ebay. It has been cut off and showed some wrinckling. I have tried pursuading the seller many times to send it to me on my "terms" (€ wise). But without luck. At last she gave in and its mine now. A piece of thinnish paper with some ink.

I've given it a proper mat and new frame. And I am quite happy.

last finds and NOID (4)

???

Nice print, no maker. Recognizing this signature would do the artist honour. Maybe not to everyone's taste but very  nice woodcut print of a geranium in clay pot.

I read something like: Z..........maijer 35 or ......ending Burgmaijer ?


I love printhunting, haggling and dealing (to a very modest degree and always decently). I donot care if the maker is Vincent van Gogh or a complete nono. As long as the composition is appealing (aesthetic ?) and has enough "quality" to please. Me. There is nothing more to it really. And I love figuring out what and who is (or was) behind the signature. Their lives, careers etc..

Who has a clue or knows ?

last finds and NOID (3): H.J. ?

H.J. ?

Hopefully my Blog will one day atract some visitors who might know 1 or 2 things. 

My latest plan is to introduce a new type of postings: "last finds and NOID" on the Blog. Since I am both the owner and editor I think this is a great and wonderful idea. With a label attached it might even work better as the Blog grows.

These two unsigned (probably cut off when framed) but monogrammed prints, which I particularly like, have a maker that is untill now completely unknown to me. That is of no consequence neither for me enjoying them nor honest appriciation for this artist. But I believe a name to the monogram would do the artist honour. And most importantly, further investigations could be started. They are most probably of German origin (that's were they came from) but not a certainty. Maybe Dutch ?

I think these two prints are full of warmth and charm and have great class  Their measures aprox. 30 x 36 cm. (12" x 14,5"). I guess they originate from the 1920-'30's.

If you have any clue or idea about the maker, please send me an email or  comment.

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 ?)

last finds and NOID (2)

NOID 1

Looking for and bying old frames in fleamarkets for my rematting and framing enterprise I picked up a very neat square frame with a nice calanderplate. On the backside was an old artdealers and framingshop label from the Haque (Netherlands)

After removing the backing board this nice handpulled print came out, some pencil signing was hidden under the frame because there was no mat. I count 7 well preserved colors, 3 browns, 2 greens, red and gray.



I cannot make out what was written also because the lower part seems to have been cut of. A name, or something ending "print" ?

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NOID 2

The Drinker

My last Ebay bargain (postage exceeding purchase) I couldn't resist. From an English sketchbook probably, just 5 x 5,5 inches (11 x 12,5 cm). When he puts his glass down he'll start singing !