Skip to main content

Levon West Art

American, 1900-1968
Levon West, who also used the name Ivan Dimitri, was born on February 3, 1900 in Centerville, North Dakota. The family changed their name to West when Levon and his brothers did not want to enlist in the service during WWI under their Armenian last name, Assadoorian. The name West was chosen as it was the maiden name of Levon's mother, who was related to the early American artist Benjamin West. Levon West adopted the pen name of Ivan Dmitri to use for his color photography. His etchings and watercolors were always done under his original name, Levon West. Levon West moved often as a boy, as his father preached in a series of North Dakota towns. West graduated from high school in Harvey, North Dakota as valedictorian and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1924. He wanted to take almost entirely art courses but his father insisted that he major in business administration. West served in the U.S Navy during WWI. While in New York studying at the Art Students’ League and with etcher Joseph Pennell , he formed an aviation corporation with friends. They serviced planes at Roosevelt Field on Long Island. One day he noticed a different type of plane and did sketches of it. This plane belonged to Charles Lindberg. When West heard Lindberg flew the Spirit of St. Louis on a record breaking trans-Atlantic flight, he hurriedly did an etching from his sketches and took it to the New York Times. The paper asked how much he wanted for it and he said, “I don’t care how much I get for it, but put my name on it good and big at the bottom.” When the newspaper came out with his etching on the front page demand for his work followed. He was contacted by the Kennedy Galleries in New York the following day. This led to a series of successful etchings and national prominence. As Ivan Dmitri, he helped to gain acceptance for photography as an art medium, and established one of the first photography exhibits at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dmitri felt that such a move was necessary in order for the public to treat photography as art, rather than just something reserved smaller mediums like books, magazines, and newspapers. In 1959, Ivan Dmitri founded Photography in the Fine Arts. West was a member of the Society of American Etchers and the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and published at least two instructional books, including Making an Etching (1930). By the 1940s, his work was in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Museum, the Havemeyer Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and many others. He was represented by Kennedy Gallery in New York City. Levon West / Ivan Dimitri died in New York City on April 25, 1968
to
4
6
6
5
5
1
1
(HUNTERS WITH REFLECTIONS) -  RICH IMPRESSION
(HUNTERS WITH REFLECTIONS) -  RICH IMPRESSION

(HUNTERS WITH REFLECTIONS) - RICH IMPRESSION

By Levon West

Located in Santa Monica, CA

LEVON WEST (1900 - 1968) (Untitled) - HUNTERS with REFLECTIONS. ca 1925 Etching, signed and numbered 22, lower left. Plate, 13 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches. Sheet 15 3/4 x 11 3/4 inches. ...

Category

1920s American Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Etching

Untitled (Venice canal, man departing the gondola)
Untitled (Venice canal, man departing the gondola)

Untitled (Venice canal, man departing the gondola)

By Levon West

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Untitled (Venice canal, man departing the gondola) Drypoint, c. 1930-1931 Signed in pencil lower right (see photo) Annotated in the lower margin: "Just a souvenir made ___ Monclair L...

Category

1930s American Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Drypoint

"The Retreat From Long Island" - 1932 Etching On Paper
"The Retreat From Long Island" - 1932 Etching On Paper

"The Retreat From Long Island" - 1932 Etching On Paper

By Levon West

Located in Soquel, CA

"The Retreat From Long Island" - 1932 Etching On Paper Black and white etching titled "The Retreat from Long Island" (from the portfolio ​“The Bicentennial Pageant of George Washing...

Category

1930s American Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Laid Paper, Etching

Rainy Day / Fifth Avenue in New York
Rainy Day / Fifth Avenue in New York

Rainy Day / Fifth Avenue in New York

By Levon West

Located in New Orleans, LA

This is a rare New York image by Levon West. Levon West, who also used the name Ivan Dimitri, was born on February 3, 1900 in Centerville, North Dakota....

Category

1930s Levon West Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

A CLEAN SHOT

Levon WestA CLEAN SHOT, c. 1930

$380Sale Price|20% Off

A CLEAN SHOT

By Levon West

Located in Santa Monica, CA

LEVON WEST (1900 – 1968) A CLEAN SHOT 1930 Etching and drypoint. Signed and numbered 26 in pencil.Signed and dated in the plate 1930. Image 10 5/8 x 13 ½ inches, sheet 12 x 18 inc...

Category

1930s Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Etching

CHANGING FLIES
CHANGING FLIES

CHANGING FLIES

By Levon West

Located in Santa Monica, CA

LEVON WEST (1900 – 1968) CHANGING FLIES c. 1930 Etching and drypoint, signed in pencil and no. 28. Image, 13 1/8 x 8 3/8 inches, sheet 17 1/4 x 11 5/8 full margins with deckle edge...

Category

1930s Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Etching

Related Items
Arch Beach, California
Arch Beach, California

Arch Beach, California

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork titled "Arch Beach, California" c.1910 is an original etching on Wove paper by American artist Harley DeWitt Nichols, 1859-1939. It is hand signed and titled in pencil by the artist. The plate mark (image) size is 6.5 x 9.5 inches, framed size is 13 x 17 inches. it is custom framed in a wooden silver frame, with off white matting. It is in excellent condition, especially considering the age. About the artist: Born in the small rural Wisconsin town of Barton, Harley lived a peripatetic life. As a young child, he accompanied his family to Lincoln, Nebraska where he found great excitement in the roaming herds of buffalo and Native Americans. It was in these years that a talent for drawing was discovered. In 1870, after several years of hardship, his father moved the family back to Wisconsin. At the age of 11 he became a water boy...

Category

Early 20th Century American Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Etching

Les Gitanos - Etching by Edouard Manet - 1862

Les Gitanos - Etching by Edouard Manet - 1862

By Édouard Manet

Located in Roma, IT

Les Gitanos is a black and White etching realized by Edouard Manet in 1862.  Titled in the lower. Second state and lifetime impression realized by Société des Aquafortistes, with f...

Category

1860s Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Etching

The Gate, Chelsea

The Gate, Chelsea

By Theodore Casimir Roussel

Located in New York, NY

Theodore Roussel (1847-1926), The Gate, Chelsea; etching and drypoint, 1889-1890, signed on the tab and inscribed imp [also signed in the plate lowere right]. Reference: Hausberg 33, fourth state (of 4), from the total printing of about 43 impressions. In excellent condition, trimmed by the artist all around on the plate mark except for the tab, 8 1/8 x 6 1/2 inches. A fine impression, printed on a light cream wove paper with plate tone (wiped to brighten the gate and doorway area) and substantial burr in the drypoint work. According to Hausberg, “The gate and house behind it still stand today at No. 4 Cheyne Walk...

Category

1880s Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

The Mill, Amsterdam, 1889

The Mill, Amsterdam, 1889

By James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Located in New York, NY

James Whistler (1834-1903), The Mill, 1889, etching and drypoint, signed in pencil with the butterfly on the tab and inscribed “imp”, and inscribed “first state” (twice) and annotated “Wunderlich” and signed again with the butterfly verso. Reference: Kennedy 413, first state (of 5). Glasgow 457, second state (of 6; see discussion below) (cf. Margaret F. MacDonald, Grischka Petri, Meg Hausberg, and Joanna Meacock, James McNeill Whistler: The Etchings, a catalogue raisonné, University of Glasgow, 2011) On laid paper, in very good condition, trimmed just outside of the platemark all around except for the tab by the artist, 6 1/4 x 9 3/8 inches. A very fine impression of this great rarity, printed in black/brown ink with a slight veil of plate tone. provenance: H. Wunderlich & Co., New York Louis B. Dailey, New York (Lugt 4500) sale, Sotheby’s, New York, October 31, 2003, lot 69 literature; Neue Lagerliste 122: James McNeill Whistler – Etchings...

Category

1880s Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

J.H. Woods’ Fruit Shop, Chelsea

J.H. Woods’ Fruit Shop, Chelsea

By James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Located in New York, NY

James Whistler (1834-1903), J.H. Woods’ Fruit Shop, Chelsea, etching and drypoint, 1887-88. Signed with the butterfly on the tab and annotated “imp,” also signed with the butterfly in pencil verso and numbered “1”. References: Kennedy 265 second state (of 2), Glasgow 327 second state (of 4). Trimmed by the artist around the plate mark except for the tab, in excellent condition. Printed in black ink on ivory laid paper, 3 3/4 x 5 1/8 inches. A fine impression of this great rarity; the print was never published. Glasgow accounts for four impressions. watermark: partial arms of Amsterdam(cf. Spink/Stratis/Tedeschi, watermark nos. 12ff.) This is before the third state in which heavy shading was added around the woman at the center, and the heads of figures at right and left of the figure are defined. In Glasgow’s fourth state the shading and the figure were removed; no impression is known of this state, but the state is inferred from the cancelled plate. According to Glasgow “Joseph Henry Wood had a greengrocer’s shop at 1 Park Walk...

Category

1880s Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

Billingsgate
Billingsgate

Billingsgate

By James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Located in Middletown, NY

Etching printed in dark brownish black ink on cream laid paper, 6 x 8 7/8 inches (152 x 226 mm); full margins. Extremely minor and unobtrusive band of toning along the top sheet edg...

Category

Mid-19th Century Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Laid Paper, Drypoint, Etching

New York Skyline
New York Skyline

Louis H. RuylNew York Skyline, 1920

$450

H 9.18 in W 12.72 in

New York Skyline

By Louis H. Ruyl

Located in Middletown, NY

Etching with drypoint on cream wove paper with deckle edges, 4 3/8 x 12 3/4 inches (233 x 323 mm); sheet 9 1/2 x 15 3/4 inches (240 x 338 mm), full margins. Signed and numbered 4/75 ...

Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Levon West Art

Materials

Handmade Paper, Etching, Drypoint

Chicago Skyline
Chicago Skyline

Paul SchumannChicago Skyline, 1900

$800

H 7.17 in W 10.83 in

Chicago Skyline

By Paul Schumann

Located in Middletown, NY

A beautiful turn-of-the-century lake view of Chicago by an American artist known for his Texas landscapes. Etching with drypoint on watermarked Umbria laid paper with deckle edges, 7 1/4 x 10 7/8 inches (182 x 275 mm), full margins. Signed and numbered 4/25 in pencil, lower margin. In good condition with adhesive residue at the sheet edges on the verso, does not show through to the recto. A lovely Lake Michigan landscape...

Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Levon West Art

Materials

Handmade Paper, Etching, Drypoint

Vachère au Bord de l'Eau
Vachère au Bord de l'Eau

Camille PissarroVachère au Bord de l'Eau, 1890

$1,463Sale Price|24% Off

H 7.75 in W 5.25 in

Vachère au Bord de l'Eau

By Camille Pissarro

Located in Santa Monica, CA

CAMILLE PISSARRO (French 1830-1903) VACHERE au BORD de l’EAU 1890 (Delteil 93 viii/viii) Etching, unsigned as published in “Gazette des Beaux Arts”, Paris, 1890. On laid paper Very...

Category

1890s Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Drypoint, Etching

Winslow Homer 19th Century Woodcut Engraving "Making Hay"
Winslow Homer 19th Century Woodcut Engraving "Making Hay"

Winslow Homer 19th Century Woodcut Engraving "Making Hay"

By Winslow Homer

Located in Alamo, CA

This Winslow Homer woodcut engraving entitled "Making Hay", was published in Harper's Weekly in the July 6, 1872 edition. It depicts a two men hand cutting high grass on a hill. The man in the foreground is looking at a young boy and a girl (presumably his children), who are sitting on the ground with a picnic basket. This beautiful Homer woodcut engraving is presented in a brown wood frame and a light beige fabric mat with a black inner mat. The print is in excellent condition. There are two other Homer woodcut engravings in identical frames and mats that are listed on 1stdibs. See LU117326148332 and LU117326148272. These would make a wonderful display grouping. A discount is available for the purchase of two or all three of these prints. This Winslow Homer engraving...

Category

1870s American Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Engraving, Woodcut

“Longs Peak & Mount Meeker” Color Aquatint Etching by George Elbert Burr
“Longs Peak & Mount Meeker” Color Aquatint Etching by George Elbert Burr

“Longs Peak & Mount Meeker” Color Aquatint Etching by George Elbert Burr

By George Elbert Burr

Located in Denver, CO

This original early 20th-century color aquatint etching by celebrated American printmaker George Elbert Burr (1859–1939) captures the majestic beauty of Longs Peak and Mount Meeker a...

Category

1920s American Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Aquatint

Previously Available Items
EARLY GUNNER

EARLY GUNNER

By Levon West

Located in Santa Monica, CA

LEVON WEST (1900 – 1968) EARLY GUNNER, c. 1930 Etching and drypoint signed and numbered in pencil,17. Image, 9 ½ x 15 inches. Full sheet 11 3/8 x 18 1/4 inches. With deckle ed...

Category

1930s Abstract Impressionist Levon West Art

Materials

Drypoint

East Side Pushcarts (Jewish immigrants hustle for the American Dream circa 1900)
East Side Pushcarts (Jewish immigrants hustle for the American Dream circa 1900)

East Side Pushcarts (Jewish immigrants hustle for the American Dream circa 1900)

By Levon West

Located in New Orleans, LA

The story of the pushcart is an integral and timeless part of the immigrant experience. And there is no neighborhood with which the pushcart is more associated than New York’s Lower East Side. The first pushcarts appeared on Hester Street...

Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Levon West Art

Materials

Drypoint

Levon West art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Levon West art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Levon West in etching, drypoint, engraving and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Levon West art, so small editions measuring 9 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of David Rosenthal, Walter Tittle, and John Costigan. Levon West art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $380 and tops out at $2,200, while the average work can sell for $625.

Artists Similar to Levon West