THE LECTURE - On cataloguing the works and organizational activities of a pivotal group of
artist-etchers living and working in late 19th century New York.
Stephen Fredericks lectures in the Grand Gallery of the Art Students League of New York this week
This may not sound like a title likely to grab your interest per se, but it was the discovery of handwritten pages of the minutes of the New York Etching Club dated 1877 that prompted New York artist-printmaker Stephen Fredericks to embark upon a committed ten year journey of research
In 1998 Stephen had founded a group named the New York Society of Etchers, only to find that there had existed such a society in 1914. He had found an unrecorded exhibition catalogue while looking at mircro film spools at the New York Public Library. Bingo! His curiosity and commitment to discovering more unrecorded early beginnings of the American Etching universe had begun.
Perhaps you've got to be a printmaker, a collector or an historian to love it. As a printmaker, I love it!
As well as the idea that there is still a lot to be discovered out there, particularly in one's own field of interest.
That being said, as well as publishing a handsome volume, Stephen has included an online version providing an open educational resource. Much of the history of early American art and artists is still unrecorded and by using today's technology, as he pointed out, can save researchers time, money and travel in the impatient pursuit of new discovery. Online, go to http://rup.rice.edu/nyetching.html to look at many wonderful reproductions of etchings rarely seen today, and for details of the catalogue. Below are just two of ten prints that were shown in the slide show.
Top picture: Nimmo Moran, wife of Thomas Moran, famous painter. Throughout she is seen as an
artist in her own right - and what a lovely print! City Farm, 1881; Mielatz's print, A Rainy Night, Madison Square, 1890, graces the cover of Stephen's catalogue. Both prints are in the Williams Print Collection.
Enlarge the slide show shots for detail.
Glancing at one of the pages of the minutes for 1887, I noticed that the Boston Museum of Fine Art's Print Department organized an exhibition of the Work of the Women Etchers of America which ran from November through December, 1887. I would like to find out who they were!
Go to the MONOCHROME WEEKLY THEME for more of Aileni's concept for a challenging image
History is always fascinating to me, especially discovering lost works and artists. What I really find interesting is the recognition of women etchers in the late 1800's. The art world was ahead of its time.
ReplyDeleteThree pleasures here. The light on the lecturer; the hand pointing to the etching and the wonderful cover to the old newsletter. Thankyou.
ReplyDeleteThis has come out nicely lit, I love the grain too.
ReplyDeleteI love the grainy look. A good portrait.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot and I love the texturing.
ReplyDelete