Cassis by Ryah Ludins

This is a monochrome lithograph by Ryah Ludins. It is titled Cassis. It depicts the southern French fishing village and commune, Cassis. The perspective is narrow and flat enhancing the height of the terraced hills behind the village. Ludins also demonstrates her association with Cubism as the structures are simplified to geometric shapes. This piece was likely created around the time she was studying in France with the Cubist artist André Lhote It's a fascinating scene with effective use of light and shadow especially through that approach of using lighter tones in the background to convey distance. The top of the hill and clouds are almost imperceptible given how lightly they are inked. This impression is signed and dated lower right, Ryah Ludins '29. The edition and title are given lower left 12/25 "Cassis". There is a collector or dealer mark #4 lower left and the original price 10-- lower right. The piece is in excellent condition. It is hinge mounted to a mat board. The margins are full. It is well inked and there are no condition issues including no toning, staining, foxing, fading, tears, or paper loss. The image is 8.5 x 12 inches. The sheet is 11.25 x 16 inches. The mat board is 16 x 20 inches. A great Cubist work by this groundbreaking artist.

Ryah Ludins (1896–1957) Ryah Ludins was one of the most influential printmakers of the mid-20th century in the United States. Born in Russia (what is now Ukraine). As with many Eastern Europeans, she emigrated with her family to the United States, specifically the Bronx, as a child in 1904. Unlike many other immigrants, Ludins’ father was able to work professionally as an architect. She attended the Teachers College at Columbia University from 1917 until 1925, earning a B.S. in Fine Arts, followed by a graduate program. Like other women artists of the time, she obtained a teaching certificate but rather than taking a teaching position, she pursued additional artistic training. While at Columbia, she studied with artist and printmaker Kenneth Hayes Miller. Following graduation, she went to Paris and studied with André Lhote, a noted teacher and painter associated with the Cubists—an influence that can be seen in Ludins’ work. She also spent time in Mexico both as a student at the Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City and as a muralist creating works for the State Museum at Morelia, Michoacan. In New York, she did teach at the at Teachers College Summer Sessions. She was chosen to work with the Work Progress Administration in the mural division and is known to have completed a fresco called Central Park for Bellevue Hospital. She also made some prints for the WPA. She was on the roster for Atelier 17 and exhibited at least one print with the group although information about her association with the Atelier is limited. She exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, the National Academy of Design, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Her print “Cassis” was included in the 1930 "Fifty Prints of the Year" curated by John Sloane for the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Here work is held in many major collections including the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Toledo Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, the Newark Public Library, and the National Gallery. (Some material sourced from Women of Atelier 17 by Christina Weyl)