Paper

2018.20

Birdsall, Sammie

Donation

Sammie Birdsall

1945 - 1955

Date: 1950 School: American Regionalism Technique: Etching

Signed Name: Carl Horman Signature Location: lower right

ArtEtchingPrintSand dunesSaugatuck, Michigan

Image Size: 8" by 9.5"

Excellent

Conservation and framing by Kari in July 2018.

from “Michigan Dunes,” August 2018 at the OSH Carl Hoerman 1885 - 1955 Derelicts of the Dunes undated | etching Born in Babenhausen, Bavaria, Germany, Carl Hoerman was a landscape painter who used savings from working in a Hamburg shipyard and sales of charcoal drawings to finance his move to the United States in 1904. In Chicago, he studied architecture and in 1909, opened his own office where he worked until 1920. After that, he devoted most of his time to painting, and built a studio and art gallery at Saugatuck, Michigan. In 1927, he and his wife, Christiana, began trips to the West and Southwest where he painted desert, Grand Canyon, and mountain scenes. Later, he became known as a “dunes painter” because of his landscapes of western Michigan. (adapted from the Archives at askArt.) Collection: Saugatuck Douglas History Center Gift of Fred and Sammy Jane Birdsall 2018.20.01

From "Collecting the Lakeshore" 2025-2026 at the History Center main floor gallery [Displayed with Dune Shadows 2022.95.02] Carl Hoerman 1885-1955 Derelicts at the Dunes and Dune Shadows Undated circa 1930-1950 | etching These two intaglio etching prints evoke the power of line to describe the textures of the Lake Michigan dunescape. The first of these works titled Derelicts at the Dunes depicts trees once consumed by shifting sands revealed once again. The trees are craggy and there is an element of fantasy in the sands swirling from the wind. This etching could be a local or regional scene along the lake Michigan coast. Hoerman's use of sharp thin lines in his work would eventually soften over the course of a print edition. This is due to the pressure the metal etching plate goes under during the process of printing. Dune Shadows creates an even more surreal scene as the play of shadows and the solids of tree branches, limbs, and roots suggest a landscape turned upside down. Gift of Fred and Sammy Jane Birdsall Accession 2018.20.01 Collection of Kit and Art Lane Accession 2022.95.02

Status: OK Status By: Eric Gollannek Status Date: 2018-08-06