Frank Benson (American, 1862-1951). "Herons at Rest", 1923. Etching. Edition of 150. Signed by artist in pencil, lower left margin. Dimensions: 11 7/8" x 7 7/8". Nicely matted & framed under glass: 21" x 17". While Frank Benson is best known for his dramatic Impressionistic paintings, his childhood love of illustrating birds re-surfaced in 1915 when he finished a series of wild life etchings that went on exhibit. The body of work was well received and he continued a lifetime pursuit of etching wildlife from his annual hunting and fishing excursions. Frank Weston Benson combined a love for the outdoors with a passion for etching. Herons at Rest joins his observational abilities and his masterful etching technique. Benson used the velvety lines associated with the drypoint technique to describe the soft plumage of the waterfowl and the gnarled limb on which a trio of herons perch. Delicate lines define the horizon, plants, and the disruption to the water’s surface made by the wading birds. Subtle plate tone lends an atmospheric quality to the sky and a faint tint to the water. The remainder of the composition is empty, allowing us to appreciate the quiet environment. Due to etchings like Herons at Rest, Benson is credited with helping make wildlife prints a distinct genre.(Reference Orderman, 219). A print from this edition is In the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Fair. Original framing discoloration of print around edge of mat.

21 x 17 in

3 lb