<b>PINES BY THE SEA</b> / Bertha Lum1908<B>SOLD</B></em>

Details

A group of white-sailed ships makes their way towards the hazy horizon, moving out deeper towards the deepening blue of the sea. An assembly of trees stands witness to this early morning fleet as they seek out the day's catch.

In this highly impressionistic design, Lum conjures a vision of Japan clad in the fragile light of early morning. The idyllic scene is made more romantic by the tree's rhythmic canopy of leaves as they move across the composition, echoing the fluidity of the body of water that lay before them. Lum first traveled to Japan on a seven-week honeymoon trip. During her stay, Lum received a short informal tutorial on woodblock print production and acquired the tools to begin her printmaking career in earnest. This design from 1908 was one of the first prints Lum produced when she returned to the United States. This work was completely self-directed, as she carved and printed the design herself. The design's soft mist-like atmosphere gives the impression of a fond memory. Perhaps Lum, in this design, longingly aims to return to Japan, where white-sailed ships return with a bountiful catch.

Connoisseur's Note

This print is executed on Lum's tissue-like paper. The print is in excellent condition with soft but vivid colors, as originally produced. The work also shows evidence of hand-colored embellishments. The print is signed in pencil by the artist at the bottom of the image and dated at the lower margin. The work is one of the earliest designs in Lum's body of work. It was produced shortly after returning to the United States from a seven-week tour of Japan.