Waipurgisnacht, Woodcut
The Expressionist sculptor and writer Ernst Barlach was born in Wedel, near Hamburg, in 1870. He studied at the Hamburg Technical School (1888 - 91), at the Dresden Academy (1891 - 5), and settled in Gustrow, Mecklenburg in 1910. Following a visit to Russia in 1906 he abandoned Art Nouveau and quickly developed his characteristic style. In Barlach's work draped figures and groups, carved in wood and stone, or cast in bronze, express single emotions through gestures. Frenzy (1910; Ernst Barlach Haus, Hamburg) and Avenger (1914; Herman D. Shickman Collection, New York), are typical figures, imbued with spiritual power and humanity, derived from Gothic sculpture and German mysticism. Though he was awarded national honors, his work was later classed as “degenerate” by the Nazis and many works were destroyed.
"Barlach Ernst (1870 - 1938)." A Biographical Dictionary of Artists, Andromeda. London: Andromeda, 1995. Credo Reference. Web. 10 October 2012.
Boar, Wood Engraving
Illustration for Hippolytos, Wood Engraving
1922–2000, American sculptor, graphic artist, and teacher, b. New Brunswick, N.J. In sculptural and graphic works that are figurative in style, Baskin's images of a corrupt, bloated humanity often have an element of sardonic humor. He frequently treated biblical or mythological themes and explored both human and animal figures. His woodcuts are celebrated for their power and expressiveness. Among his notable prints are Mid-century Monster and The Poet Laureate; his sculpture Man with a Dead Bird is in the Museum of Modern Art, New York City. Baskin taught sculpture and printmaking at Smith College for 20 years (1953–73) and at Hampshire College for ten (1984–94). His works, often reproduced, are represented in many of the world's major museums. Baskin founded (1942) the Gehenna Press, noted for its fine typography and superbly illustrated limited-edition books, in Northampton, Mass., and operated it for more than 25 years. Baskin's bas-relief Funeral Cortege was installed at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, Washington, D.C., in 1997.
"Baskin, Leonard." The Columbia Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia University Press, 2008. Credo Reference. Web. 10 October 2012.
Going Home, Lithograph
He was born in Missouri, but studied in Paris in 1908-11. Although he began his training in conventional ateliers, he soon came into contact with the work of Cézanne and Matisse. However, the most significant early influence on him in Paris was the work of his compatriot Stanton Macdonald-Wright, who encouraged Benton to an initial emphasis on abstract form. After serving in the American Navy during the First World War, Benton's work became more conventional, and he set out to perpetuate a form of mural painting that focused on themes of American history. From c. 1929 he was associated with the American scene painters, whose Regionalist emphasis was deliberately opposed to avant-garde tendencies and had a nationalist flavour. His glorification of American rural life formed a strong basis for the mural painting of the Federal Arts Project during the 1930s. Benton's most famous pupil was Pollock.
"Benton, Thomas Hart (1889 - 1975)." The Bloomsbury Guide to Art. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd, 1996. Credo Reference. Web. 10 October 2012.
Le Graveur, Etching
The French painter, book-illustrator, and graphic artist Pierre Bonnard was born near Paris. He studied law from 1885 to 1888, but after failing his examination he attended classes at the École des Beaux-Arts and then at the Académie Julian, where he met Maurice Denis, Paul Sérusier, and Jean Édouard Vuillard. In 1889, he produced his first poster, France-Champagne. After military service (1889 - 1890) he took a studio in Paris with Vuillard. From 1891, he exhibited regularly at the Salon des Indépendants. He became friendly with the Natanson brothers and hence produced illustrations for La Revue Blanche; he produced theater designs for several avant-garde theaters and worked with Alfred Jarry.
"Bonnard Pierre (1867 - 1947)." A Biographical Dictionary of Artists, Andromeda. London: Andromeda, 1995. Credo Reference. Web. 10 October 2012.