Hello everyone. I have a lot of 27 old looking pictures. They seem to be based on paintings, and I believe they may be photogravures. I've researched a bit about what are and are not photogravures, and I think these fit the criteria (the rough surface paper is smooth / flat where the plate was impressed, there are some variations between duplicates of the same image, the paper is indented...). Many of them seem to be nature scenes from the American West. Some of the artist signatures are S. T. Robinson, W. Keith, Geo Spiel, etc). My questions are if these are in fact photogravures, are they common, and how might they have come together? Was there a set, a book, something else? The paper on them all seems the same. Some of the images seem associated with a John Muir book, but others are not. Thank you for any help!
I think one of my first questions might be how did you come by them? Did you acquire them as a lot at auction, and have you researched any of the names yet? From your images, the matting looks like there’s some age to them... It’s a bit late tonite, so you might not get too many responses tonite, but do keep checking back as this is a worldwide member site, and some check in at all hours!!!!
true photogravures do not have regularly spaced dots defining the shading, under a loupe you should see only a random granular texture, no formations.
I did get them at an auction, yes, but there wasn't much info about them: something like 'western landscape scenes.' As to the painters, they seem to be second half 19th C painters-- lots of drama in the scenes!
May be images from "Picturesque California". Here's a Julian Rix currently listed on eBay from that publication: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Winter-In-T...-in-John-Muir-1888-Photogravure-/392966278604 That asking price seems a bit ambitious to me. Here's a lot of 12 images that sold for $140 (combined) from that publication: https://www.oldworldauctions.com/catalog/lot/126/223
In case they are from Picturesque California, here is information on that publication and its history. Originally came out serially, in 30 parts. Later there were other editions, including a two-volume book set. https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/picturesque_california/ http://commonplace.online/article/picturesque-california/
Thanks for the links and info! From that last source, commonplace.online: "Finally, in terms of its graphics, Picturesque California could and would have been produced only at the particular time it was: when artists still played a major role in landscape images in books; when etching was the new artistic craze; when printing of photogravures was a new (and short-lived) technology; when wood engraving was being gradually replaced by photoengraving; and when, although the allure of color was strong, the technology for four-color printing had yet to be worked out. Picturesque California was a most flamboyant example of the last major publications illustrating scenery and cities before photography and mechanization displaced artists and craftspeople." That about sums it all up, I guess! Thanks again.
@Potteryplease , Do you have the "On the beach in Santa Cruz" one ? That's the main beach with the Sea Beach Hotel on the hill. When it burned it was spectacular they say ! The rock wall remains, it is residential and a restaurant there now . I think it is Casablanca restaurant , it was the Surfrider I believe when I was a kid in the 60's. https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/19c5d545f2550133737245af1560f3c6.pdf
Sorry to say I don't seem to have that one! I've been able to ID the locations of a number of them, and many seem to be here in the Pacific NW. Since I got them in Seattle, I'm wondering if someone selected out the more 'local' ones. Anyway, hotel looks like it was amazing!
