A Wooded Hillside by Ernest Haskell

This is an etching by noted American artist Ernest Haskell titled, A Wooded Hillside. It depicts tree covered rolling hills, a favorite subject for the artist. The title doesn't suggest a specific location, but it appears similar to other New England scenes. This etching is not listed in his Catalogue Raisonne at least under this name. This is not unusual given that the catalogue was produced posthumously and additional prints by the artist have come to light since its publication. There is effective use of negative space, both in the hills in the foreground of the image, but also the sky which occupies the upper half of the image. The etching is printed on a closely trimmed sheet 6.125 x 4.25 inches. Many of Haskell's prints are in this tightly trimmed condition, so it is likely this was done by the artist. It is unframed. It is in pristine condition. It is a crisp and well inked impression. It is pencil signed lower right Ernest Haskell and is also signed Haskell in the plate lower left center. No edition is given which is typical for Haskell's work. There are no issues including no tears, paper loss, stains, toning, fading, or foxing. An excellent example of the artist's work.

Ernest Haskell (1876-1925) Haskell was born in Connecticut and received his first training at the Woodstock Academy. While recovering from an attack of Typhoid Fever, he began to make sketches. Seen by an editor of a New York newspaper many were published. He began formal art study in Boston, but left after a few weeks to take a position at the New York American as an illustrator. In 1897, he went to Paris to ostensibly study at the Academie Julian. Rebelling against the formal academic tradition, he spent 2 years haunting the museums and galleries and working by himself. He returned to New York, worked as an illustrator and began doing some portraiture and caricature. He did two famous caricatures of Whistler which lead to a meeting with the great master. Whistler exposed Haskell to etching, a medium he enthusiastically embraced. He became a master etcher exploring a variety of techniques including flick engraving, and dry point. In particular, he was fond of trees doing oaks in Maine, pines on the beach, cypress from Florida and California and the giant sequoias and redwoods of the west coast. His work spans the range of tone from light and atmospheric to extremely dark and brooding. Haskell was tragically killed in an automobile accident depriving us of one of our great artists at the height of his powers. His work is held by most major American museums, including the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco, the National Gallery of Art, the New York Public Library, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.