Lot 266
John Solem (American, d. 2014). "Above the Archdeacon", viscosity etching, signed, titled, and numbered 5/5 in pencil at lower right. Ca. late 20th century. This original, limited edition viscosity etching by John Solem. Solem's "Wilderness Spirit" collection captured his direct exploration of nature in Alaska, the High Sierra, the Canadian wilderness, and the Grand Canyon over a period of 30 years. By using the viscosity printing process (see more about viscosity printing below) Solem created an image in bas relief presenting a topographical view of the region. All is delineated in a striking color palette with shades of claret, sage, and forest green. Size of etching: 29.75" L x 39.75" W (75.6 cm x 101 cm) Size of frame: 37.125" L x 47.125" W (94.3 cm x 119.7 cm)
In 2003, John Solem had a solo exhibition at the Kwan Fong Gallery at California Lutheran University. The curators wrote the following, "Solem is a faculty emeritus of the CLU Art Department and a resident of Yosemite Lakes Park north of Fresno. The 'Wilderness Spirit' collection represents his direct experience with nature in Alaska, the High Sierra, the Canadian Wilderness and the Grand Canyon over the last 30 years. His artwork is best actualized through the flow of the sensory experiences with the natural world and shows a deep spiritual relationship between the artist and the wilderness."
Viscosity printing is a sophisticated technique that combines the principles of relief and intaglio printing. It was developed by Stanley William Hayter in Paris in the late 1960s. Viscosity by definition is a fluid's ability to resist flow. The artist can print multiple colors of ink from a single plate instead of using multiple plates to ensure color separation. The artist either scratches or etches a metal plate with acid, and then introduces a viscous ink that possesses the consistency of oil paint into the grooves. Then the polished surface is wiped clean with a cloth and newsprint. Once this is done, the ink only remains below the plate level. Following this, the artist covers the platewith a damp paper and felt blankets and runs it through a press. The immense pressure pushes the paper into the etched grooves to receive the ink. The result is that the ink that was once below the plate's surface is now embossed on the paper to create a relief surface.
Provenance: private Ventura County, California, USA collection
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#168391
- Condition: Signed, titled, and numbered 5/5 in pencil at lower right. Some creases to sheet, mostly at lower right, as shown. Minor stains to the matte. Frame has a few scuffs and is missing glass but is otherwise intact and fitted with a suspension wire.
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