Louie Ewing (1908-1983)
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"Navajo Blankets Portfolio" 1942, 15 Large Serigraphs. A WPA serigraph print portfolio. Edition: 110/200 (with very few surviving).
Average image size: 22 x 16 inches (558 x 406 mm). Sheets: 26 x 20 inches (660 x 507 mm).
Very good condition. Generous margins. Printed on off-white wove paper. Ewing's "Navajo Blankets" portfolio is one of the rarest of WPA portfolios. Based on actual Navajo textiles, the prints display amazing attention to the detail of each blanket. For instance, where a weaver may have switched yarn dye lots, or created lazy lines, the artist picked up on this and reproduced these subtleties in his serigraphs. Beautifully done, and as stated above, rare.
BASIC PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION:
• 15 numbered serigraph prints.
• A heavy gray board portfolio.
• Text by Kenneth Chapman.
Average image size: 22 x 16 inches (558 x 406 mm). Sheets: 26 x 20 inches (660 x 507 mm).
Very good condition. Generous margins. Printed on off-white wove paper. Ewing's "Navajo Blankets" portfolio is one of the rarest of WPA portfolios. Based on actual Navajo textiles, the prints display amazing attention to the detail of each blanket. For instance, where a weaver may have switched yarn dye lots, or created lazy lines, the artist picked up on this and reproduced these subtleties in his serigraphs. Beautifully done, and as stated above, rare.
BASIC PORTFOLIO DESCRIPTION:
• 15 numbered serigraph prints.
• A heavy gray board portfolio.
• Text by Kenneth Chapman.
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Comments:
THE SERIGRAPH PRINTS: The portfolio consists of fifteen large serigraph (silkscreen) prints. The average image size measures approximately 22 x 16 inches (558 x 406 mm), with the sheet size measuring 26 x 20 inches (660 x 507 mm). Of the fifteen prints, two are horizontal, the remainder vertical.
On the back of each print and applied by rubber stamp is:
NAVAJO BLANKETS
Laboratory of Anthropology
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Also printed by rubber stamp on the front of each print is the plate number. This annotation was placed in the extreme upper right corner of each sheet.
Edition: Numbered 110, in pencil, in three locations:
• On the back of Plate 15.
• On the inside back cover of the board portfolio.
• On the inside front cover of the Chapman text.
Small tack holes occur in the upper left and right corner of eleven plates (1-11). These holes are the product of the serigraph process. They were used to register the paper for the application of additional color. (Thumbtacks were placed on the screen bed and intended to guide each successive color screening.) The only exceptions are Plates 12-15 where no holes are present. They were probably trimmed away after production.
THE FOLIO FOLDER: The portfolio folder is made of heavy gray board, linen hinged, with corners and some hinging finished with brown Kraft type paper. The boards measure about 22" x 28" (558 x 711 mm). A paper strap is attached to the inside front cover to hold the Chapman text. The inside back cover is rubber stamped "Laboratory of Anthropology, Santa Fe, New Mexico" with the portfolio number 110 added.
The portfolios exterior front cover was decorated with a small serigraph title sheet printed in red and blue on white paper. It reads "Navajo Blankets" - this cover statement has been partially damaged and a fragment is missing. (Incidentally, no money was allocated by the federal government to pay for this hinged portfolio, Louie Ewing fashioned each one on his own time and probably at his expense.)
Cloth ties are attached front and back for closure.
The portfolio text consists of seven pages with a statement of production and a discussion of Navajo blankets written by Kenneth Chapman (Curator of the Laboratory of Anthropology). The text was typed, mimeographed, and stapled (the staples have been removed to avoid rust damage).
Inventory ID: 1094
THE SERIGRAPH PRINTS: The portfolio consists of fifteen large serigraph (silkscreen) prints. The average image size measures approximately 22 x 16 inches (558 x 406 mm), with the sheet size measuring 26 x 20 inches (660 x 507 mm). Of the fifteen prints, two are horizontal, the remainder vertical.
On the back of each print and applied by rubber stamp is:
NAVAJO BLANKETS
Laboratory of Anthropology
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Also printed by rubber stamp on the front of each print is the plate number. This annotation was placed in the extreme upper right corner of each sheet.
Edition: Numbered 110, in pencil, in three locations:
• On the back of Plate 15.
• On the inside back cover of the board portfolio.
• On the inside front cover of the Chapman text.
Small tack holes occur in the upper left and right corner of eleven plates (1-11). These holes are the product of the serigraph process. They were used to register the paper for the application of additional color. (Thumbtacks were placed on the screen bed and intended to guide each successive color screening.) The only exceptions are Plates 12-15 where no holes are present. They were probably trimmed away after production.
THE FOLIO FOLDER: The portfolio folder is made of heavy gray board, linen hinged, with corners and some hinging finished with brown Kraft type paper. The boards measure about 22" x 28" (558 x 711 mm). A paper strap is attached to the inside front cover to hold the Chapman text. The inside back cover is rubber stamped "Laboratory of Anthropology, Santa Fe, New Mexico" with the portfolio number 110 added.
The portfolios exterior front cover was decorated with a small serigraph title sheet printed in red and blue on white paper. It reads "Navajo Blankets" - this cover statement has been partially damaged and a fragment is missing. (Incidentally, no money was allocated by the federal government to pay for this hinged portfolio, Louie Ewing fashioned each one on his own time and probably at his expense.)
Cloth ties are attached front and back for closure.
The portfolio text consists of seven pages with a statement of production and a discussion of Navajo blankets written by Kenneth Chapman (Curator of the Laboratory of Anthropology). The text was typed, mimeographed, and stapled (the staples have been removed to avoid rust damage).
Inventory ID: 1094
