George Elbert Burr

San Francisco Mts. no. 2 - George Elbert Burr

One of the most vexing things about being an art dealer is that so many people do not understand the concept of prints.  It is understandable as fewer and fewer people take art history or even art classes and many people are quite ignorant about art in general. 

So many people think that prints mean reproductions and while they can be created in either one off monotypes, limited editions or open editions, printmaking is an art unto itself and has been practiced in our world as far back as the fifth century if not earlier. It is a stand alone craft and should not be viewed as the red headed stepchild of the art world.

Woodcuts, mezzotints, engravings and aquatints are all examples of prints but of course there are many more like lithographs and serigraphs. Durer and Rembrandt were both master printmakers as were Benton, Martin Lewis, Gene Kloss and Charles Capps.

I have tried my hand at making aquatint prints and it is painstaking and not easy! Imagine making something so lovely and elegant with a stylus on a stone or a plate.

One of my favorite southwest printmakers was George Elbert Burr (1859-1939.) Born in Ohio, he worked in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona and created some of the most beautiful southwest images of all time. He worked for Scribners and Harpers in the late 19th century and is said to have pulled over twenty five thousand prints.

In my opinion his best works are the ones with rich dark areas, his aquatints with drypoint, they can be truly magnificent. I am happy to have sold many of his prints in my career.

I don't go to estate sales, being slightly claustrophobic and agoraphobic but I saw that a Fallbrook estate sale had two Burrs for sale this weekend. I tried to buy them before the sale but the company doesn't do that or quote prices on the phone and I was busy all day Saturday so I figured that I had lost them.

I went to Dr. Neon's party Saturday night and didn't go to bed until about four in the morning. When I woke up yesterday I decided to drive over to see if they managed to slip through but thought, "No chance."

But I got there and there they were on the wall, now thirty percent off.

Arizona Canal, Phoenix, Evening - George Elbert Burr

Verde River, Apache Indian Reservation - George Elbert Burr

Soapweed - George Elbert Burr

This is the third or fourth time I have had Verde River and it is a really good one, one of my favorites. 

I also bought this very nice Burr print recently, Soapweed. 

I believe I have a Colorado snowscene around here somewhere as well but I may have sold it, can't remember.

Maybe have a couple others, will have to dig.

I own more art than I will ever be able to sell in my lifetime and I just can't stop buying, love the great stuff more than money.

I hope that you enjoy seeing these prints, created by a master printmaker.