Gustave Baumann Color Woodblock Prints, ca. 1925
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GUEST:
These were found in my husband's grandfather's cabin. We inherited them, and they're Gustave Baumann prints. We really liked this print up here. It was in my mother-in-law's kitchen. The other two, we were evacuated from one of the fires two years ago. And so we were collecting all the treasures, and we found these in the closet.
APPRAISER:
Gustave Baumann was German-born. He was born in 1881. He moved to the United States in 1918. He came to Santa Fe. Before he came to Santa Fe, he studied etching. He studied woodblock-making, and he chose the European method of woodblock, which is very intricate, meticulous, detailed work. He also used oil-based paints, which he ground and made himself.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
So he was the ultimate artisan. He created the blocks, he printed on small blocks so that he could print them himself.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
When he was here in Santa Fe, he developed marionettes, and he had a, a little puppet show. He's considered the quintessential Santa Fe artist because he captures the sparkling light. This picture, entitled Punch Hunting Chipmunks, is absolutely the most beautiful I have ever seen. Punch is the little fellow right over here, a dog, I assume, running up the hill. This is Talaya Peak, and the one closest to you is entitled Mountain Pool. He made editions. Now, not every work in the edition is exactly the same, and that's because he hand-pulled them. When Baumann was in Indiana, he developed this cipher, which is his mark. And it's a hand on a heart that he used in all of his prints. He maintained this incredible detail, meticulousness, and control. And that's the thing that makes Baumann really special as a woodblock artist. Do you know when your grandfather purchased them?
GUEST:
It was my husband's grandfather, and he was in Santa Fe around 1923 to 1928.
APPRAISER:
It's likely that these are dated from 1928, when he was here.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
Baumann has always been sought after. We feel that a retail replacement value for each one of the prints would be between $20,000 and $22,000.
GUEST:
Wow! (chuckles) That's a surprise.
APPRAISER:
Based on the trends that we're seeing, in a couple of years, it could be even more.
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