‘The Season Opens’ 1930’s Etching From ‘Dogs in the Field’ a 24 Lithograph Limited Edition Folio by British-American Artist, Marguerite Kirmse

Details

Description

An etching titled "The Season Opens" (also known as "Carolina Days" or "Close Work") by the renowned British-American artist Marguerite … Read more An etching titled "The Season Opens" (also known as "Carolina Days" or "Close Work") by the renowned British-American artist Marguerite Kirmse. Kirmse was highly regarded for her detailed etchings, drawings, and paintings of dogs. From her “Dogs in the Field" folio of 24 lithographed plates with an additional set of 6 lithograph prints. The work was printed in a limited edition of 685 copies in 1935 by the Derrydale Press.

Marguerite Kirmse (1885-1954) was a renowned British-American artist celebrated for her exquisite etchings of dogs. Her keen eye and delicate technique captured the beauty, loyalty, and personality of man's best friend.

The print features two pointers in a field, a common subject for the artist who was famous for her dog imagery. The dogs are depicted "on point," which is a hunting term for when a dog freezes to indicate the presence of game. The artist's signature is signed in pencil in the lower-right corner.

Born in Bournemouth, England, Marguerite Kirmse trained as a harpist, graduating from The Royal Academy of Music. In addition to her love of music, Marguerite had a fondness for animals and a superior talent for reproducing their images.

Seeking respite from London, Marguerite accompanied friends to the United States for a summer's vacation. When her friends returned home, Marguerite remained. Her attempts to establish a musical career were not successful, but her interest in art deepened.

In 1921, she did her first etching, titled “Brushwood Boy”, using a victrola needle. "It was done using a Victrola needle", she explained in her book, DOGS (1930) "before I knew much about diamond points, burnishers, and other etcher's tools". Eventually using diamond-pointed pencils, she went on to create over 250 etchings of dogs representing 26 breeds.  

Kirmse’s love of the Scottish Terrier was solidified when she met and married George W. Cole in 1924. Cole was an avid Scottish Terrier fancier and for a time the president of The Scottish Terrier Club of America. While Kirmse maintained an artist’s studio in New York City, the married couple also owned Arcady Farm near Bridgewater, Connecticut where they bred dogs for the show ring, under the kennel name of Tobermory. Also in residence were Airedales, Irish Terriers, and a variety of Setters, Pointers, and Field Spaniels. The sporting breeds, apparently moved back and forth from Arcady Farm to the Cole's second home in Southern Pines, North Carolina where they were used for hunting. It was there that Kirmse's remarkable studies of hunting dogs in action were inspired. The result was the remarkable DOGS IN THE FIELD, the artist's magnum opus published in 1935.

Dimensions:
Frame 17.5” x 14.25”
Art 13” x 9.5”

In very good vintage condition considering age and history. Zoom in on photos to see any imperfections including loss of silver finish on the edges of the wood frame in places and one spot of foxing in the top left corner. See less