Through the Trees, Clear Lake, South Dakota

Artist / Maker Jay Norwood Darling (American, 1876 - 1962)

Date1940

MediumPhotoetching and drypoint on paper

Dimensions11 x 14 3/8 in. (27.9 x 36.5 cm)

ClassificationsPrints and Printing Plates

Credit LineGift of the J. N. "Ding" Darling Foundation. In the permanent collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberUM82.279

Status

Not on view

Collections

Label TextThis print is among the most powerful and abstract of all Darling's etchings. The drawing of the trees is masterful, and the mallards in silhouette communicate more of the excitement of the sudden arrival of a flock than any meticulously articulated group of ducks could ever do. This was preceded by a group of graphite and pen drawings which demonstrates how much thought was given to these compositions. The location of the final drawing, the one photographed to create this plate, is not known. The plate was reworked with drypoint to make the black areas richer. The root system of the tree was a problem area, for the etched lines were far too wide to hold ink, and it prints gray. The copper plate was extant.

SignedJ.N. Darling in pencil, lower right

Object Titles[com.gallerysystems.emuseum.core.entities.ObjectTitle@9a74]

Locations