Iris by M. Vaughn Millbourn

This is a woodcut by Chicago artist and graphic designer M. Vaughn Millbourn. It is a five-color woodcut depicting a yellow iris. It is done in the Arts and Crafts style which is consistent with its date of 1935. While the iris is depicted in isolation with a few leaves on a black background it is not a sterile botanical print. The colors and graceful curves of the leaves and blossom give it an elegance. The predominant colors are yellow, black, and green but there are areas of light blue and lavender that provide some contrast and depth. It's a lovely piece and a representative work by this relatively unknown artist. It is signed and dated in pencil lower left M. Vaughn Millbourn 1935. It is also monogrammed in the plate lower left. The piece is framed and has not been examined out of the frame. The frame size is 11 3/4 x 12 1/4 inches. The image size is 6.5 x 7 inches. The piece is in very good condition. The colors are vivid without fading. There does appear to be some mat burn, but it is well away from the image. The paper is not toned and there is no tearing, paper loss, or stains. There may be some slight foxing along the lower margin, again away from the image. The framing materials are probably not archival. A beautiful period piece.

M. Vaughn Millbourn (1893-1987) Melville (M) Vaughn Millbourn was born in Michigan. Not much information is available on his early life and training although he did receive a degree from the School of the Art Institute. He was a Chicago-based graphic designer and a member of the 27 Chicago Designers. In addition to owning a design firm he taught graphic design and printmaking at the Chicago Academy of Fine Art. He is especially known for his woodblock prints and linoleum cuts that were done in the Arts and Crafts style. He also did some intaglio prints. He favored botanical subjects. Several of his prints and his papers are held by the University of Illinois.