Original Dry Point Etching Plate for Walt Kuhn's "Colt" 1922
Original Dry Point Etching Plate for Walt Kuhn's "Colt" 1922
Plate measures 6.5 x 6.5 inches. Mostly clean with some minor spotting. Verso is much darker (oxidized?) with small white label with "Colt" written on it. Consignor displayed plate in sealed frame since 2005. The frame was damaged in shipping and has been removed. Very Good Condition.
New York artist Walt Kuhn (1877-1949) was at the forefront of the early 20th century New York art scene both as an artist and promotor. He worked in various media including printmaker, sculptor and painter. Early in his career he was more known as a cartoonist and draughtsman but yearned to be a "serious" modern artist.
Kuhn was a founding member of the Association of American Painters and Sculptors, who, in 1913 hosted the 'International Exhibition of Modern Art', aka the Armory Show. Held in the vast 69th Regiment Armory, on Lexington Avenue between 25th and 26th Streets in New York, the show attracted over 200,000 patrons and exceeded all expectations. The ABAA New York Book Fair is held each spring in the same building.
From Kuhn's art ledger book, we find that "Colt" was etched in 1922. The partially nude model is described in the ledger as "Girl with long hair laying on back with knees up in the air, arms bent towards shoulders." Each drypoint etching cost $10. It appears 19 etchings were pulled from the plate including "8 prints put into storage fall 1936." "Colt" was exhibited at Philadelphia Art Alliance in 1927 and Marshall Field in Chicago in 1928. This information is from a 1967 Kennedy Gallery catalog from their exhibition "WALT KUHN As Printmaker."
A small number of Kuhn plates were apparently sold at auction in 2005. Photo scans are difficult to portray the plate. Item #942
Price: $975.00