Will Simmons - The Irish Elk

The Irish Elk

Will Simmons's original drypoint engraving, "The Irish Elk" is printed upon fine, hand-made, laid paper with the watermark of "J. Huard" as commissioned by the American Forestry Department in December, 1925. It is signed by the artist in the plate and signed and annotated, "first state" in pencil along the lower margin. This original impression of The Irish Elk is a fine, original example of the famous wild life art created by the American artist, Will Simmons

The Irish Elk

View other original engravings by Will Simmons.

Will Simmons (Elche, Spain, 1884 - New Milford, CT, 1949)
#	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Notes	-
01-	The Irish Elk by Will Simmons	Original Drypoint Engraving	1925	Signed and annotated, "first state" in pencil by Will Simmons along the lower margin and also signed by him in the plate, edition of 50 impressions.	Sold
02.-	L'Insaisissable (The Unattainable) by Will Simmons	Original Drypoint Engraving	1923	Signed by Will Simmons in pencil along the lower margin, edition of 50 impressions.	Sold

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Title:	The Irish Elk
Artist:	Simmons, Will (Elche, Spain, 1884 - New Milford, CT, 1949)
Date:	December, 1925
Medium:	Original Drypoint Engraving
Note:	Will Simmons: Perhaps the most accomplished American wildlife artist of the early twentieth century, Will Simmons was born in an artist's colony in Spain. He received his first lessons from his father, Edward Simmons, a well known mural and history painter. He was then sent to Boston to receive an academic education at Harvard University. Such studies, however, did not agree with Simmons and within a year he became an art student at the Julian Academy in Paris. His hours at the Academy were further supplemented by prolonged visits to the Natural History Museum and to various zoos.
	Upon his return to America, Will Simmons first was introduced to etching and engraving by the artist, John Marin. His first published etchings, aquatints and drypoint engravings date from 1911. It was not until 1920, however, that Simmons directed most of his efforts to these graphic mediums. In particular, Simmons was considered a master of the drypoint engraving, where the thick, velvety tones of the burr were employed to depict his famous studies of monkeys, bears, moose, birds and other animals with both accuracy and imagination.
	Will Simmons was a full member of the Chicago Society of Etchers, the Brooklyn Society of Etchers and of the California Printmakers. His original prints and drawings are included in many major American collections but the Smithsonian Institution in Washington owns the most extensive collection of his art.
	In total, Will Simmons created slightly over two hundred and fifty original prints dealing with wildlife. All his engravings were published in small editions of fifty or less. The Irish Elk is one of Simmons's most famous wildlife etchings. It was commissioned by the American Forestry Department in December, 1925. Before the edition of fifty was printed, a handful of 'first state' impressions were struck. This original example is one of these initial impressions, showing the full burr and tonal qualities of the drypointing to its fullest.
Edition:	Limited edition of fifty impressions, First State.
Source:	American Forestry
Size:	10 1/4 X 8 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Condition:	Printed upon fine, hand-made, laid paper with the watermark of "J. Huard". Signed by the artist in the plate and signed and annotated, "first state" in pencil along the lower margin. It is a rich, velvety impression and in excellent condition throughout. This original impression of The Irish Elk represents a superb example of the famous wild life art of Will Simmons.
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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