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The Dark Wood Saugatuck

Print
This is a lithograph print made by Thomas Eddy Tallmadge, a prominent prairie style architect. It depicts a dark wooded scene with a body of water off in the horizon in Saugatuck. This could be of any lake, but is most likely to be of the Ox-Bow lagoon, as this is where Tallmadge spent a lot of his time while around town in the summer. Tallmadge bought a large parcel of wooded land as an addition onto the property of the Ox-Bow. The round spaces between tree branches in this print suggest sunlight shining through directed at the artist or viewer of the work. In the foreground there is a decaying log beneath a clearing, one that leads to the lake in the background. In bottom left corner the piece reads: "To Gertrude Hoodruff."
Print of a wooded scene in Saugatuck

2020.26.04

Collecting the Art Coast

EtchingPrint

The Dark Wood

Tallmadge, Thomas Eddy 1876-1940

AC bay 22 small works

Art Conservation Room

Thomas Eddy Tallmadge 1876 - 1940 The Dark Wood, Saugatuck c. 1920s | etching Notes: Tallmadge was born in Washington, D.C., but moved to Evanston, Illinois as a child.He earned a degree in Architecture in 1898 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.He taught at the Armour Institute in Chicago 1906-1926, and wrote extensively on architectural history. Tallmadge was instrumental in securing the property for the Ox-Bow School of Painting and later purchased a large tract of land surrounding the colony to prevent development. That area is now known as Tallmadge Woods. This etching is an example of Tallmadge’s competence as an etcher. *adapted from Kit Lane, “Painting the Town” Collection: Saugatuck Douglas History Center Gift of: Chris Spencer in memory of Charles Ashbrenner Accession: 2020.26.04

From "Collecting the Lakeshore" 2025-2026 at the History Center main floor gallery Thomas Eddy Tallmadge 1876-1940 The Dark Wood Saugatuck circa 1920-1930 | etching This is an etching made by Thomas Eddy Tallmadge, a prominent Prairie Style architect personally connected to the Ox-Bow Summer School of Painting. It depicts a dark wooded scene with a body of water off in the horizon, likely the lagoon at Ox-Bow. Tallmadge was instrumental in securing the property for the artists colony and later purchased a large tract of land surrounding it to prevent encroachment from development. That area is now known as Tallmadge Woods. The hand written inscription in pencil, “To Gertrude Woodruff…T.E. Tallmadge” suggests the work was presented as a gift by the artist around the time of its creation. The artwork was given to the SDHC by Holland, Michigan collector Chris Spencer in 2020. Tallmadge was born in Washington, D.C., but moved to Evanston, Illinois as a child. He earned a degree in Architecture in 1898 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He taught at the Armour Institute in Chicago 1906-1926, and wrote extensively on architectural history. Gift of Chris Spencer in Memory of Charles Ashbrenner Accession 2020.26.04

12/14/2020

09/15/2026