Southern Harbor by Werner Drewes

This is a colored woodcut by noted German-American artist Werner Drewes titled Southern Harbor. It is done in Drewes unmistakable style which shows the influence of Lyonel Feininger and the German Expressionists with Cubist elements (a style described as Cubo-expressionism). It departs from the Expressionist woodcuts of Feininger through the use of vibrant colors showing the influence of his other teachers, Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. This combination makes a Drewes woodcut immediately recognizable. The composition is flattened in perspective with simplification of objects into geometric shapes--both elements of cubism. The woodcut style is angular--almost brutal but full of energy. It appears that at least 10 colors were used (meaning Drewes cut at least 10 blocks to create the piece). This version is the 1961 edition of 100 (Rose 217; Windisch, Cole, and Herbaugh 1564). He issued a second version of this woodcut with the same title for the Associated American Artists in 1964 also in an edition of 100, however the colors used are different allowing the two versions to be distinguished. It is signed in pencil lower right Drewes and the edition 96/100 is given lower left. The title is in pencil lower center. The piece is framed with a framed size of 23.5 x 19.5 inches. The image size is 16.25 x 11.75 inches. The framing materials are likely period (fabric mesh mats were very popular) but are not archival. The piece appears to be in very good condition but has not been examined out of the frame. The colors are bright without fading. There are no stains, foxing, tears, or paper loss visible. It's an excellent example of the artist's work.

Werner Drewes (1899-1985) Werner Drewes initially studied architecture before changing his area of study to art. He studied under several of the great German artists of the 20th century including Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, and Lyonel Feininger. He moved to the United States and spent the rest of his life in this country. He was one of the founding members of the American Abstract Artists and participated in the Federal Arts Project in New York before moving on to a teaching career at Washington University in St. Louis. He had one-man shows all over the world, including a posthumous show in Lakewood, CO in 2003.
While he utilized almost all artistic media his woodcuts are probably the best known. These woodcuts are very colorful and some show the clear influence of Feininger.