Edward Borein "Western Cowboy on Horse"Original Rare 1924 Monotype

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Edward Borein "Western Cowboy on horse"Original Rare 1924 Monotype
American South Western Art - Monotype oil/ink on illustration board -Signed … Read more Edward Borein "Western Cowboy on horse"Original Rare 1924 Monotype
American South Western Art - Monotype oil/ink on illustration board -Signed ,dated 1924 ,dedicated and inscribed
Signatures & Inscriptions: Signed and dated Borein 1924 upper right; includes the handwritten dedication "To Madaline".
Dimensions: 5 x 4 ½ inches (Image size) -Frame size 12x11"

Visual and Technical Analysis
The Rare Medium: This piece is a monotype, a highly singular printing process where Borein painted directly onto a metal plate and transferred the wet image onto illustration board. This explains the distinctive, rich "puddling" and softened texture of the colors. Because the plate is wiped clean or destroyed during printing, it is a one-of-a-kind unique original, completely distinct from his traditional editioned etchings.

Composition: The piece features a profile view of a lone cowboy, captured mid-journey on horseback. Dressed in an authentic work shirt, a wide-brimmed cowboy hat, and a vibrant red neckerchief, he gazes forward with a calm, expression. Borein's deep familiarity with the subject shines through in the natural posture of the rider and the structural placement of the horse's ears peeking into the lower right corner. Navigating the expansive Western landscape. Borein uses sparse, atmospheric pigment applications to emphasize the harsh, blinding light of the frontier. The composition is tightly cropped, emphasizing the stoic concentration of the rider

The Dedication Correction: While the inscription appears to read ""To Madaline" at a glance, the documentation confirms it reads "To Madeline". Borein characteristically misspelled her name on the front of the plate.

Exceptional Provenance & Historical Significance
This piece carries an unbroken chain of ownership linking it directly to the heart of the historic Santa Barbara art scene:
The Recipient (The Borg Family): The piece was personally gifted by Edward Borein to Madelyn "Madaline" Borg, the wife of his close friend and legendary Western landscape painter, Carl Oscar Borg (1879–1947). Borein and Borg were central pillars of the Santa Barbara artist community and founding members of the Santa Barbara Art League.
The Borg Estate: The lower handwritten label confirms the piece was legally cataloged as number 2150 directly from the Estate of Madelyn Borg after her passing.
John T. Reynolds Collection: The piece later transitioned into the hands of respected Santa Barbara authority and collector, John T. Reynolds.
The Jim & Linda Grimm Estate: The backing paper features the prominent silver-ink signature of Jim & Linda Grimm (2006). Jim Grimm was a highly respected Santa Barbara County collector whose estate is widely recognized for preserving premium California and Western regional art.

Rarity and Market Value Context
According to the archival exhibition label on the reverse, "Only eight monotypes are known to exist by the artist."
Because Borein is primarily celebrated for his thousands of drawings, watercolors, and copper-plate etchings, a confirmed 1924 monotype is an extraordinary rarity. Combined with an airtight, illustrious provenance originating directly from the family of his lifelong contemporary Carl Oscar Borg, this piece represents an important historical artifact of early 20th-century American art

Artist Biography
John Edward Borein (1872–1945) was a foundational figure in 20th-century Western American regionalism. Celebrated as one of the few prominent Western artists actually born and raised in the West, Borein rejected the cinematic romanticism of East Coast studios. Instead, he spent decades documenting the raw, unpolished truth of the working cowhand, native tribes, and early California ranch life. His work is deeply institutionalized, anchoring permanent collections at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.
Early Life and the Vaquero Roots (1872–1907)
The Native Californian: Born in San Leandro, California in 1872, Borein was the son of a county deputy sheriff. He displayed an obsessive talent for sketching horses and cattle from early childhood.
The Working Cowboy: At age 18, he abandoned formal art instruction at the California School of Design after just one month, choosing to live the life he wished to draw. For nearly two decades, Borein worked as an itinerant vaquero and cowboy on the historic cattle ranches of California, Oregon, Nevada, and old Mexico.
Etched by the West: During long cattle drives, Borein carried sketching pads in his saddle pockets. He recorded the specific geometry of stock ropes, the proper mechanics of riding a bucking bronc, and the subtle regional differences in traditional Spanish-Mexican vaquero attire.
New York, Success, and the Artist Circle (1907–1921)
By his mid-thirties, Borein transitioned into full-time professional art. In 1907, he moved to New York City to master printmaking and etching techniques at the Art Students League.
His Manhattan studio quickly evolved into a bustling cultural salon for Western icons, expatriate cowboys, and legendary creators. Borein counted many of the era's most significant cultural voices as part of his tight-knit inner circle:
Will Rogers and Buffalo Bill Cody.
Legendary painter Charles M. Russell.
Renowned California painter Maynard Dixon.
Master painter Carl Oscar Borg, to whose family this specific 1924 monotype was gifted.
The Santa Barbara Art Colony Era (1921–1945)
Longing for his home state, Borein permanently returned to California in 1921, setting up a legendary studio in Santa Barbara. He became a monumental fixture of the coastal city's burgeoning artist community.
Borein co-founded the Santa Barbara Art League and helped shape the iconic visual landscape of the city. He notably spent his later years helping design and promote the city's annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta parade, ensuring that horse equipment and regional costumes adhered to absolute historical accuracy. He lived and worked in Santa Barbara until his passing in 1945.
Artistic Style and Technical Mastery
Borein’s artwork is universally praised for its absolute authenticity. If Borein drew a cinch, a stirrup leather, or an Indian blanket, it was anatomically and historically perfect.
The Spontaneous Monotype: While famous for his finely detailed copper-plate etchings and brilliant watercolors, Borein occasionally experimented with the highly unpredictable monotype process. Painted fluidly directly onto a hard plate and pressed onto illustration board or paper, these prints were impossible to replicate. They capture the rawest essence of Borein's speed, color mixing, and fluid composition. Because of their single-impression nature and supreme scarcity (with mere handfuls ever recorded), monotypes like Mounted Cowboy represent the apex of collector rarity. See less