Original 1937 Ray Bethers 'san Francisco's Chinatown' Wood Engraving - Trolley

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Original ray bethers (1902-1973) "season's greetings from ray & peggy bethers - 1139 taylor street - san francisco - 1937 … Read more Original ray bethers (1902-1973) "season's greetings from ray & peggy bethers - 1139 taylor street - san francisco - 1937 - this year we send you this wood engraving of san francisco's chinatown'

this is just a great original piece. I recently bought a small collection of wonderful woodcuts. I bought the whole collection for a single print that I wanted for my personal collection. I am listing the others from the collection this week. Dont miss this chance to pickup some great original prints for your collection. This might be my favorite print of the group. This is an important and incredibly scarce original wood engraving by important california artist ray bethers. For those not familiar with the artist, I have included his biography below. This is a stunning example of the artist's scarce wood engraving work. I have found a few other examples including pieces from his time in mexico as well as one from his time in tahiti that is in a museum. This is the only california work I have been able to find. Image measures 6 1/2 x 7 1/4 inches on sheet measuring 7 3/4 x 9 1/2 inches. The piece has the details of where it is, and where it comes from printed along the top and bottom of the print. A thin, onion skin like paper. A wonderful crisp rich dark impression. Really as printed condition. There is a faint toning box, I am guessing from where it was framed. Top margins show some old tape residue in the corners and the small piece of archival tape holding it down in the center. Otherwise, an outstanding example of this scarce print. This was sent as the artist's holiday card back in 1937 so I imagine there are virtually no other examples anywhere. It probably was tossed out by most and those that did keep it, it would have been very difficult to keep in this condition as the paper is so thin. Really just a fantastic early piece of san francisco chinatown. Ready for a great matte and frame that would make this a fantastic addition to any important american print collection.

For those not familiar with the artist his biography from a gallery that sells the artist's work reads: "printmaker, painter, engraver, illustrator, ray bethers was born in corvallis, oregon on april 25, 1902. After graduating from the university of oregon, in the early 1920s, bethers moved to san francisco where he studied with gottardo piazzoni and ray boynton at the california school of fine art, and with armin hansen. He had further study in new york city at the art students league and grand central school followed by one year (1929-30) in paris at academie de ia grand chaumiere. During the 1930s, he worked in san francisco for foster & kleiser (billboards) and with lord & thomas. Bethers made trips to mexico (1932), south america (1934), the south seas (1936), and new mexico (1937) in search of subjects. His wood engravings are similar in style and subject matter to those of rockwell kent. He was a resident of new york city in the 1940s and 1950s. He died in september 1973.
Exh: san francisco art association, 1925-37; california artists, san diego, 1926; emporium (sf), 1930 (solo); gump's (sf), 1930, 1933, 1936 (solos); art institute of chicago, 1934; denver museum, 1934; california society of etchers from 1934; san francisco museum of art, 1935; portland museum, 1935; grand central galleries (nyc), 1935; rockefeller center (nyc), 1937; nw pm, 1937; golden gate international exposition, 1939.
Collection:san francisco museum of art; texas college for women; library of congress. & Car; wwaa 1936-53." See less