Original Wood Block Print “Torrey Pine” [R]

Gustav Baumann was born in Germany but immigrated to the United States as a child with his parents.  He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and had lived for a time in Indiana.

Baumann and several other artists decided to see firsthand the reportedly light, clear air of New Mexico that they had been hearing about from other Chicago artists, and in 1918, he settled in Santa Fe where, for over fifty years, he participated in the art community.  He created colored wood blocks from which he made prints, and also became a carver of saints and marionettes, working the Marionette Theater, and carving his "little people." He also did numerous paintings in bright colors.

This woodcut is of a Torrey Pine of California.  Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is located within San Diego city limits and yet remains one of the wildest stretches of land on the Southern California coast.  Because of the efforts and foresight of the people in this area, 2000 acres of land are as they were before San Diego was developed—with the chaparral plant community, the rare and elegant Torrey pine trees, miles of unspoiled beaches, and a lagoon that is vital to migrating seabirds.

Baumann captured the Torrey Pine in its splendid elegance. Most of the image is black but hints of green highlight the pine.  The print is titled in lower left and signed in lower right.  It is State I, #72/125 and dated -61.

Condition: appears to be in original condition but has not been examined out of the frame

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from Colorado