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Morris Blackburn
'Avalon South' —— Mid-Century Modernism

1951

About the Item

Morris Blackburn, 'Avalon South', wood engraving, 1951, edition 30. Signed, titled, and numbered '12/30' in pencil. A fine black impression on cream wove Japan paper, with wide margins (1 3/8 to 2 1/4 inches), in excellent condition. Archivally sleeved, unmatted. Image size 5 x 7 inches (127 x 178 mm); sheet size 8 5/8 x 10 7/8 inches (219 x 276 mm). ABOUT THE ARTIST Morris Blackburn was a prominent painter, printmaker, and graphic artist, as well as a respected teacher at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Born in Philadelphia, where he spent most of his career, Blackburn was a descendant of the notable colonial portrait artist Joseph J. Blackburn (c. 1700–1780). He developed an interest in art early on and studied architectural drawing at the Philadelphia Trade School. In 1922, he took classes at the Graphic Sketch Club and later attended the School of Industrial Art. While working for the well-known Philadelphia furniture designer Oscar Mertz, he studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts from 1925 to 1929. During his studies, he learned painting from Henry Bainbridge McCarter and drawing from Daniel Garber, along with Arthur B. Carles, who introduced him to contemporary modernist trends. Blackburn was awarded two Cresson Traveling Scholarships, which allowed him to visit Europe in 1928 and 1929, where he was influenced by artists such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Paul Cézanne. Upon returning to the United States during the Great Depression, Blackburn painted murals for the federally funded Public Works of Art Project. He resumed his work for Mertz and began teaching furniture design and drafting at the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art in 1932. He later became an assistant to the painter Franklin Chenault Watkins (1894–1972). In the late 1930s, Blackburn took private lessons from Carles, developing an increasingly abstract style. During World War II, he worked as a mechanical draftsman for the Philco company. After the war, he taught at several schools in the Philadelphia area, including the Philadelphia Museum, where he remained until 1972, and the Tyler School of Art from 1948 to 1952. He was also the first graphics instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy. Blackburn began exploring color printmaking in the late 1940s. As a member of the National Serigraph Society, he frequently exhibited his work at a time when screenprinting, developed as a fine art medium by WPA artists, was gaining broad recognition. He experimented with pochoir (stencil) and worked extensively in woodcut and wood engraving, utilizing the subtle beauty of wood grain to create complex abstract forms. His graphic works are included in prestigious collections, such as The British Museum (London), Delaware Art Museum, McNay Art Museum, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art, Phoenix Art Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Woodmere Art Museum.
  • Creator:
    Morris Blackburn (1902 - 1979, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1951
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 5 in (12.7 cm)Width: 7 in (17.78 cm)
  • Medium:
    Woodcut
  • Movement & Style:
    Modern
  • Period:
    1950-1959
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Myrtle Beach, SC
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 1018381stDibs: LU532313521872

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