45. Kerr Eby
(1889-1946)
Christmas Trees

(click on image to print)
Eby, Christmas Trees

Christmas Trees

Etching, 1940, Giardina 202 only state, 233 x 329 mm. Very fine impression with a film of ink left on the plate to represent the sky, on wove paper with full margins, signed in pencil from the edition of 100; slight paper darkening in the area of the old mat opening. Eby, a distinguished American etcher, did a number of different kinds of prints, including some powerful images of World War I, but probably the most appealing images he created were those of Connecticut snow scenes. One does not have to live in Connecticut to appreciate them, though it helps. Their combination of wintry landscape and bare trees with snug-looking houses essentially allows the viewer to see the cold rather than feel it, and offers a comfort and nostalgia not unlike that of old Christmas cards. The Christmas trees of the title here are actually piled on the sled, gathered, presumably, to be sent along to some metropolitan center where, lined on the sidewalk for sale, they will be part of quite a different landscape.