Walpi
HOWARD COOK
American, (1901-1980)
Woodcut, 1927, Duffy 73, edition 50 (40 printed). 10 x 12 in. Signed, dated and titled in pencil. This is a fine, rich impression printed on thin Japanese paper. The margins are full but modest in size. The condition is excellent. Walpi is an ancient, continuously inhabited Hopi village established around 900 AD. The site is located in Arizona.
SOLD

Wood Interior
HOWARD COOK
American, (1901-1980)
Wood engraving, 1931, Duffy 171, edition about 150 (?) 6 1/2 x 4 1/8 in. Signed, dated and numbered in pencil. This is a fine impression printed on thin light cream wove paper. The margins are wide and the condition is fine. (There's just the faintest suggestion of toning within an earlier mat opening.) This is from the deluxe edition of 100 from The Checkerboard published by Weyhe Gallery in 1931.
$900

Giant's Thumb (Monument Rock)
HOWARD COOK
American, (1901-1980)
Woodcut, 1926, Duffy 23, edition 50 (30 printed). 14 x 8 1/16 in. Signed in the block. Signed in pencil. This is a superb, luminous impression with full margins. The condition is excellent. This dramatic woodcut depicts this historic rock formation located in Monument Valley which covers Utah and Arizona.
$1,400

District Schoolhouse
HOWARD COOK
American, (1901-1980)
Woodcut, 1926, Duffy 18; edition 50 (25 printed). 17 1/4 x 12 3/4 in. Signed in the block, lower left. Signed, dated and titled in pencil. This is a superb impression printed on fibrous japan paper. The margins are full and the condition is fine apart from minor wrinkles here and there along the extreme margin edges. This large, early work is a powerful example of Cook's skills in the woodcut medium. Consider it a precursor to many fine works to come.
$1,850

Moonlit Night (Mannacht)
ANNA JULIE DE GRAAG
Dutch, (1877-1924)
Woodcut printed in colors, 1920, Cat. Grafiek GJ Nieuwenhuizen Segaar, no. 26; edition unknown. 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. Signed and dated in pencil. This is a fine impression printed on gray paper. The margins are full. The condition is fine. De Graag specialized in arts and crafts style woodcuts. She lived and worked in the Hague and studied at the Academy there with J.J. Aarts. The verso bears the stamp of Segaar over the publisher's stamp of Cornelius de Lorm.
SOLD

Nature Study
ANNA JULIE DE GRAAG
Dutch, (1877-1924)
Woodcut printed in colors, 1917, edition unknown. 7 1/8 x 5 3/8 in. Initialed and dated in the plate. Signed in pencil. this is a fine impression printed on gray laid paper. The margins are wide and the condition is fine apart from slight toning within an earlier mat opening. This print was published by Cornelius de Lorm and their stamp is on the verso.
SOLD

To Be Or Not To Be
VICTOR DELHEZ
Belgian, (1902-1985)
Wood engraving, 1948, small edition. 11 3/4 x 8 7/8 in. Signed in pencil and initialed in the block. Inscribed "epreuve d'artiste". A fine impression in fine condition. Full margins.
$875

Three Virtues (Drie Deugend)
VICTOR DELHEZ
Belgian, (1902-1985)
Wood engraving , 1943, Breda catalogue # 490, edition unknown. 11 3/4 x 9 in. Signed in pencil and also inscribed "épeuve d'artiste." This is is a fine impression with full margins. The paper is a cream colored wove which is typically what Delhez printed on. His editions were always very small and each impression is usually inscribed as an artists proof. This early work from his Danse Macabre series, also called Dodendans, is exemplary of Delhez's interest in humor and the macabre. This is his version of the Chinese proverb, "Hear no Evil, See no Evil, Speak no Evil."
SOLD

De Zichter (Harvester)
JOHAN DIJKSTRA
Dutch, (1896-1978)
Woodcut, 1924-25, edition unknown. 28 3/4 x 20 1/2 in. Signed in pencil and also inscribed "handdruck." A fine impression in very good condition. There are a few small printing creases showing mostly in the wide margins. The block for this large work was cut in 1924-25 and very few impressions were taken. This is from the second printing in 1957-58 with the addition of "handdruk" in pencil. Some later impressions are known which were printed on thin paper and without the added inscription. Dijkstra was a founding member of the Groningen art society known as "De Ploeg." This Dutch expressionist movement was inspired by Kirchner, among others.
$3,000

Street Scene with Lady in a Hat
JOHAN DIJKSTRA
Dutch, (1896-1978)
Woodcut, circa 1925-27, edition unknown but quite small. 20 1/2 x 15 in. Signed in pencil lower right and inscribed 'epreuve," lower left. This is a superb, early impression printed on tan paper. The margins are substantial and the condition is fine. Dijkstra was a founding member of the Dutch expressionist movement known as "De Ploeg," (The Plow) which was established in Groningen in 1918. Indeed, expressionism was international. Dijkstra, along with Jan Wiegers, Jan Altink and others, were keenly aware of the German contingent of the expressionist movement and Wiegers became very close friends with Kirchner while he was living in Davos, Switzerland. Dutch expressionism is often overlooked but it represents an integral part of early 20th century Dutch artistic heritage. The Groninger Museum today possesses a large collection of prints, drawings and paintings by these artists. This is an exceptional and rare woodcut certainly printed in a very small edition. Dijkstra's best work, as seen here, clearly reflects the influence of Kirchner but also shows an artist with his own compelling vision. De Ploeg prints were printed in small editions due to the rather limited audience at the time.
SOLD

Suburbs (Buitenwijk)
JOHAN DIJKSTRA
Dutch, (1896-1978)
Woodcut printed in yellow and black, 1923, De Vries H5, edition unknown. 14 x 21 1/8 in. Signed and dated in ink. Inscribed in pencil "eigen druk" (printed by hand). This is a superb impression of this large, outstanding Dutch expressionist woodcut. The margins are full. The condition is very good. (The artist carefully added a small cutout paper patch, printed in black, onto the image to the left of center. The pressure of the block and the stickiness of the ink pulled up a small part of the paper in this spot. He was obviously pleased with the impression to have gone to this extent to fix it.) Dijkstra, like Jan Altink, was taught by the non-conformist painter F.H. Bach. Both were founders of the "de Ploeg" movement in Groningen and the two often painted together. They were both in the first de Ploeg show in 1919.
SOLD

Woodcuts, Ploeg, 1927 (Houtsneden, Ploeg, 1927)
JOHAN DIJKSTRA
Dutch, (1896-1978)
Woodcut printed in colors, 1927, De Vries p.55, 88; edition unknown. 8 1/4 x 14 7/8 in. Signed with the orange atelier stamp in the lower right corner. This is a fine impression with full margins. The condition is very good apart from a vertical centerfold and minor soiling and stray yellow printer's ink in the bottom margin. The name of the artist appears in the upper right corner as typescript. It seems that in the mid-twenties, the Ploeg artists were discussing the possibility of creating a portfolio of Ploeg prints which could be used as a sort of promotional gift for art dealers, museums etc. They decided to launch a competition for a cover design. According to De Vries, Dijkstra submitted at least two (this being one of them). At the next meeting, however, it turned out that the other members were not very enthusiastic about the idea and the project was eventually abandoned.
SOLD

Boarders (Kostgangers)
JOHAN DIJKSTRA
Dutch, (1896-1978)
Woodcut, 1924-25, DeVries H25 (ii/II); edition unknown. 6 1/8 x 8 3/8 in. Signed in pencil. This is a fine impression printed on white wove paper. The margins are full and the condition is excellent. Dijkstra studied at the Academie Minerva in Groningen and from 1920-21 he studied at the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam. He was one of the founders of de Ploeg, the Dutch group of expressionist printmakers and painters.
$900

Sleeping Landworkers (Slapende Landarbeiders)
JOHAN DIJKSTRA
Dutch, (1896-1978)
Woodcut, 1924, DeVries H10; edition unknown. 5 1/4 x 3 3/4 in. Signed in pencil. Printed by the artist "eigendr..." This is a fine impression printed on study wove paper. The margins are substantial. The condition is very good apart from marginal specks here and there. According to de Vries, the block was printed for the cover of the de Ploeg exhibition catalogue from 1924. This is a signed proof before publication. (Words were added below the image in typography by H.N. Werkman.)
$750

Interior Scene
ISAMI DOI
American, (1903-1965)
Woodcut printed in dark brown ink, 1928, edition unknown. 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. Initialed in the block, lower center. Signed and dated in pencil. Here we have a fine impression with full margins. The condition is fine apart from a few soft ripples in the image from the printing process and a small paper imperfection in the lower right just to the image. Doi studied for two years at the University of Hawaii. He then went to Columbia University for five years and susequently spent a year in Paris. He stayed in New York until 1938 then he returned to his native Hawaii. This is a rare print and we are aware of another, similar image done around the same time.
SOLD

Stairwell, Dark
ISAMI DOI
American, (1903-1965)
Woodcut printed in dark brown ink, circa 1928, edition unknown. 8 1/2 x 6 3/8 in. Initialed in the block, lower left. Signed in pencil. This is a superb, luminous impression printed on fairly thin light cream wove paper. The margins are full. The condition is very good. Doi studied for two years at the University of Hawaii. He then went to Columbia University for five years and subsequently spent a year in Paris. He stayed in New York until 1938 then he returned to his native Hawaii. This is a rare print and we recently sold a very similar print which was dated 1928.
SOLD

Cafe Scene
POL DOM
Dutch, (b. 1885)
Linoleum cut printed in black and light brown., circa 1925-30, edition unknown. 11 1/4 x 10 in. Signed in pencil. This is a fine impression with narrow margins. The condition is very good apart from a small subtle stain just on the edge of the image, lower left corner. Pol Dom was born in Antwerp, Belgium and lived and worked in The Hague from 1927. He was educated at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and was active as a watercolor painter, illustrator, printmaker, sculptor and caricaturist. He was member of the Pulchri Studio in The Hague. Cafe Scene is his best known block print.
$800

Family
NICOLAS (NICO) EEKMAN
Belgian, (1889-1973)
Woodcut, circa 1925-30, edition unknown but probably small. 10 1/8 x 5 3/4 in. Signed in pencil lower right. This fine impression is printed on a thin Japanese paper. The margins are narrow (about 1/2" all around). The condition is fine. Eekman developed his own expressionist woodcut style with an emphasis on the figurative. His work can be found in many museum collections.
$500

Dance of Death in Seven Tempos (Dood- Dans in Zeven Tempos)
NICOLAS (NICO) EEKMAN
Belgian, (1889-1973)
Woodcuts, 1924, edition 200. each woodcut 10 3/4 x 6. Signed in red ink with the artist's monogram on the left and signed in pencil, lower right. This set of seven woodcuts (plus title page) consists of fine, uniform impressions in very good condition. The margins are full as issued. This masterful Belgian expressionist work is printed on one sheet of Toshi paper and presented in an accordian fold, with the original presentation wrapper. Eekman was born in Brussels and settled in Paris in 1920. He exhibited widely in Europe and was quite friendly with Mondrian and Signac. He was very active as a painter and woodblock artist and also showed his prints in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Toronto and Chicago. (There's a wonderful web site which has been organized by the artist's daughter, Luce: nicolaseekman.com.) As seen in the work of Henri van Straten, Victor Delhez and Nicolas Eekman, among others, a macabre and thoroughly captivating sense of humor often pervades Belgian aesthetics during the 1920s and 1930s. James Ensor is best known and certainly an early inspiration, but there were many other printmakers whose work stands out. This is particulary evident in the woodcut medium and Eekman's version of "danse macabre" is exemplary.
SOLD

Man Planting in a Garden
NICOLAS (NICO) EEKMAN
Belgian, (1889-1973)
Woodcut, 1920s, edition 96. 7 7/8 x 8 3/4 in. Signed and numbered in pencil. Also, this impression has the artist's red ink monogram in the lower left corner. Here we have a superb, rich impression printed on thin Japanese paper. The margins appear to be full. The condition is very good other than traces of old adhesive in the four margin corners, verso, from an early mount.
$700