This is a linoleum block print by Norbertine von Bresslern-Roth (Austria, 1891-1978), who some regard as the greatest twentieth century European animal artist.
Norbertine von Bresslern-Roth (Austria, 1891-1978)
The untitled 8″ x 9-1/8″ linocut of three greyhounds is dated 1926. Bresslern-Roth beautifully captures the distinctive and characteristic visible bone structure of these creatures, and I enjoyed shaping the frame’s corners, which also have shaped proud splines, to echo that. I’d never thought about the opportunity for harmony between a picture frame and a picture of a skeletal frame (I guess I haven’t framed many skeletons). The 7/8″ wide frame is in walnut stained black. Its basic profile is our No. 14, which I often use with block prints in order to take advantage of another opportunity for harmony: the No. 14 profile is made the same way the printing block is made, with a good portion of the surface carved back to leave raised lines to ink the paper.
Scroll down to see more animal prints by Bresslern-Roth.
Process—
More animal linocuts by Bresslern-Roth
Below is a sampling of animal linocuts by this artist. These I found at at Invaluable.com and at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, which I encourage you to visit to find more work by the artist in this particular style she mastered, as well as Bresslern-Roth’s paintings and drawings. Learn more about Norbertine Bresslern-Roth here…
