Allen Lewis (1873 - 1957)
Lewis was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1873 and studied with Jean-Léon Gerome at the Ecole des Beaus Arts in Paris, creating his first etchings in 1895. In 1900 his work, along with fellow Americans Whistler and Pennell, was accepted in the printmaking section of the Paris Salon. He returned to New York in 1902, where he became a member of Alfred Steiglitz's circle. His etchings were exhibited at Steiglitz's Gallery 291 with a show of 43 etchings, drypoints, and bookplates. He was an Associate Member of the Photo-Secession and one of his photographs was included in the 1912 issue of The Camera Work. He also became known for his color woodcuts. In 1915 he won a Gold Medal at the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. Lewis taught in New York at the Art Students League between 1924 and 1932 with Pennell and from 1932-34 at the New School for Social Research. He died in New Jersey.
Tennessee Mountain Sisters
Wood engraving in two colors, 1927. Edition not stated. Image size 4½” x 6”; sheet size 5-5/8” x 9”. Initialed in the block. Published by The Print Connoisseur, Volume VII, Number 2, April, 1927. Fine condition
SOLD
Twilight Toil
Color Woodcut, 1943; edition of 200. Image size 7” x 10”; sheet size 9-3/8” x 12½”. Published by the Woodcut Society of Kansas City, Missouri, then based at the Torch Press, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Printed by the artist and signed in pencil by him in the lower margin. Fine overall condition in the original presentation folder.
$625
Saint Francis Preaching To The Birds
Color woodcut, 1933; edition of 200. Image size 6-7/8” x 9-5/8”; page size 12-3/4” x 16” printed on a 25-5/8" x 32" press sheet by Lewis on a Washington hand press and folded to size. Signed in pencil by the artist in the lower margin of the image and numbered 153 in the colophon. Beautiful typography and design, expertly inked and printed. Very good overall condition with minor smudging not affecting the image.
SOLD