Ipswich Bridge/The Old Bridge

Arthur Wesley Dow, artist

1857–1922

Ipswich Bridge/The Old Bridge, circa 1893–1895

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: laid paper; color woodcut

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 120 x 55 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 150 x 83 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 4 3/4 x 2 3/16 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 5 7/8 x 3 1/4 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 14 x 11 in

Credit line: Museum purchase: Helen Foresman Spencer Art Acquisition Fund

Accession number: 1999.0210

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"Inspired by Japan," Mar-2003, Cori Sherman
Dow discovered the art of Hokusai as young artist in 1891, marking the beginning of his dedication to teaching Japanese aesthetics and design principles to an entire generation of budding artists. By 1895, Dow had mastered the techniques of woodcut printmaking and had seen an exhibition of his work mounted at the Boston Museum of Fin Art. But his creations were primarily used for illustration purposes, as seen in his textbook, Composition: A Series of Exercises in Art Structure for the Use of Students And Teachers, which encouraged the application of Japanese design concepts to American art practice.

The alternate color schemes printed from the same woodblocks attest to Dow’s commitment to teaching art and design principles directly to his students through demonstration. The small size of Dow’s “teaching” woodblocks afforded him greater ease instructing his many students (including Georgia O’Keeffe and Max Weber) in carving, registering, and especially printing techniques. No two color schemes of these diminutive impressions are alike.