Martin Lewis was born in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia, on June 7th, 1881. He was the second of eight children and had a passion for drawing.
At the age of 15, Lewis left home and traveled in New South Wales, Australia, and in New Zealand, working as a pothole digger and a merchant seaman. He returned to Sydney and settled into a Bohemian community outside Sydney. Two of his drawings were published in the radical Sydney newspaper, The Bulletin. He studied with Julian Ashton at the Art Society's School in Sydney. Ashton was an English-born Australian artist and teacher known for his support of the Heidelberg School and for his influential art school in Sydney.
In 1900, Lewis left Australia for the United States. His first job was in San Francisco, painting stage decorations for William McKinley's presidential campaign of 1900. By 1909, Lewis was living in New York, where he found work in commercial illustration. His earliest known etching is dated 1915. However, the level of skill in this piece suggests he had been working in the medium for some time previously. It was during this period that he helped Edward Hopper learn the basics of etching.
In 1920, after the breakup of a romance, Lewis traveled to Japan, where for two years he drew and painted and studied Japanese art. The influence of Japanese prints is very evident in Lewis's prints after that period. In 1925, he returned to etching and produced most of his well-known works between 1925 and 1935. Lewis's first solo exhibition in 1929 was successful enough for him to give up commercial work and concentrate entirely on printmaking.
Lewis is most famous for his black and white prints, mostly of night scenes of non-tourist, real-life street scenes of New York City. During the Depression, however, he was forced to leave the city for four years between 1932 and 1936 and move to Newtown, Connecticut. His work from this period includes a number of rural, night-time, and winter landscape scenes in this area.
Lewis returned to Manhattan in 1936 and continued to etch and paint. He taught printmaking at the Art Students League of New York from 1944 until his retirement in 1952. Now he is considered one of the most important American printmakers of the twentieth century.
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(Biography provided by Allinson Gallery, Inc.)
Shadows, Garage at Night
By Martin Lewis
Located in New York, NY
Martin Lewis (1881-1962, Shadows, Garage at Night, drypoint, 1928, signed in pencil lower right [also signed in the plate lower right]. Reference: McCarron 69, only state, from the t...
Drypoint
Tree, Manhattan
By Martin Lewis
Located in New York, NY
Martin Lewis (1881-1962), Tree, Manhattan, drypoint, 1930, signed in pencil lower right [also signed in the plate lower left]. Reference: McCarron 87, only state; 91 recorded impress...
Drypoint
"Under the Street Lamp" Imp. Etching
By Martin Lewis
Located in Houston, TX
Copperplate etching by Martin Lewis titled "Under the Street Lamp." Edition of 100. Printed on laid paper with watermark and 83 recorded impressions. McCarron catalogue raisonne #70. Signed in pencil with "imp" next to the signature. In the bottom right corner is a penciled 75 and in the top right corner is a 50. The etching is framed and was taken out of the frame for condition report and photographs. The gallery label is on the back of the matte inside the frame. Dimensions without Frame: H 15 in x W 9.5 in. Artist Biography: Martin Lewis (1881-1962) was born in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia on 7 June 1881. He was the second of eight children and had a passion for drawing. At the age of 15, he left home and traveled in New South Wales, Australia, and in New Zealand, working as a pothole digger and a merchant seaman. He returned to Sydney and settled into a Bohemian community outside Sydney. Two of his drawings were published in the radical Sydney newspaper, The Bulletin. He studied with Julian Ashton at the Art Society's School in Sydney. Ashton, an English-born Australian artist and teacher, known for his support of the Heidelberg School and for his influential art school in Sydney. In 1900, Lewis left Australia for the United States. His first job was in San Francisco, painting stage decorations...
Etching, Laid Paper
Street Booth, Tokyo, New Year's Eve
By Martin Lewis
Located in Middletown, NY
A superb impression of Martin Lewis's consummate image of Japan. Etching with drypoint on fine cream laid paper, 13 7/8 x 10 3/8 inches (352 x 265 mm); sheet 17 3/4 x 14 1/4 inches ...
Handmade Paper, Laid Paper, Drypoint, Etching
QUARTER OF NINE - SATURDAY'S CHILDREN
By Martin Lewis
Located in Portland, ME
Lewis, Martin (American, born Australia, 1881-1962). QUARTER OF NINE, SATURDAY'S CHILDREN. McCarron 79. Drypoint, 1929. McCarron says the intended edition was 100 , but 107 were prin...
Drypoint
Break in the Thunderstorm
By Martin Lewis
Located in New York, NY
Martin Lewis (1881-1962, Break in the Thunderstorm, drypoint, 1930, signed and titled in pencil (also signed in the plate in a rectangle lower left). Reference: McCarron 86, second s...
Drypoint
Rainy Day, Queens
By Martin Lewis
Located in New York, NY
Martin Lewis (1881-1962), Rainy Day, Queens, drypoint, 1931, signed in pencil lower right [also signed in the plate lower right]. Reference: McCarron 94, only state, from the edition...
Drypoint
White Monday
By Martin Lewis
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Signed in the plate lower left Note: Printed on September 26, 1980 in an edition of 4 restrikes. Reference: Paul McCarron, The Prints of Martin Lewis: A Catalogue Raisonne (Bro...
Drypoint
Price Upon Request
Building a Babylon, Tudor City, NY.
By Martin Lewis
Located in Plano, TX
McCarron 76. 12 7/8 x 7 7/8 (sheet 16 5/8 x 12 1/4). 6th trial proof (McCarron records 84 impressions including 4 trial proofs). Illustrated L'Amérique de la Dépression: Artistes En...
Etching, Drypoint
Price Upon Request
Quarter of Nine, Saturday's Children.
By Martin Lewis
Located in Plano, TX
Quarter of Nine, Saturday's Children. 1929. Drypoint. McCarron 78. 9 3/4 x 12 3/4 (sheet 12 7/8 x 17 7/8). Illustrated: American Etchers: Martin Lewis. Edition 107. A fine impression...
Drypoint, Etching
$2,750Sale Price|21% Off
H 7.13 in W 5.25 in D 0.5 in
The Gargoyle and His Quarry
By John Taylor Arms
Located in Plano, TX
The Gargoyle and His Quarry, Notre Dame. 1920. Etching.Fletcher 90. 7 1/8 x 5 1/4 (sheet 10 1/2 x 9 1/16). Gargoyle series #1. Edition 75. A rich impression printed on 'FJHead&Co' c...
Drypoint, Etching
$4,332
H 16.54 in W 33.08 in
Christ Church, Oxford 1675 hand-coloured engraving by David Loggan
By David Loggan
Located in London, GB
To see our other views of Oxford and Cambridge, scroll down to "More from this Seller" and below it click on "See all from this Seller" - or send us a message if you cannot find the ...
Engraving
$2,375
H 21.75 in W 23.75 in D 0.88 in
"A Dance in Otaheite" (Tahiti), Engraving from Captain Cook's 3rd Voyage
By John Webber
Located in Alamo, CA
"A Dance in Otaheite" (Tahiti) is an engraving created by William Sharp (1749-1824), from a drawing by John Webber (1752-1793), who was the artist on Captain James Cook's 3rd and final voyage of discovery. It is a plate in the atlas of "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean Undertaken by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere", the official British Admirality sanctioned journal published upon completion of the voyage in London in 1784 by Strahan & Cadell. Two women and two men wearing ceremonial costumes, performing a dance outdoors standing on a mat. Three men are playing the drums in the background, in front of a thatched roof building. An audience of men are sitting on both sides of the stage. By the time Webber arrived in Tahiti, 'south sea' imagery had become familiar. Webber gave concentrated attention to dance. He had the opportunity to distinguish the Tahitian dance from the more formalized dancing of Tonga. Whereas they seem to have called to mind the more formal dances of antiquity, the Tahitian dancing aroused memories of peasant and folk dancing. This engraving is professionally framed in Koa wood. Koa wood is legendary in Hawaii. Not only is this amazing wood native to Hawaii, but it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern. Koa has an honored heritage in Hawaii and is highly revered and sacred. The word “koa” means “warrior” in Hawaiian. The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great, created canoes and weapons from a wood plentiful on the Big Island of Hawaii. This wood became synonymous with the warriors themselves, and it became known as koa. The print is in excellent condition. There are three other engravings listed from the official journal of Captain Cook's 3rd voyage available that are presented in identical Koa wood frames and double mats (LU117324682432, LU117324684052, LU117324684062). They would make a wonderful grouping for a display of 2, 3 or 4 prints. A discount is available for a grouping depending on the number of items included. Hawaii was discovered by Captain Cook during this voyage. Hawaii was originally called The Sandwich Islands in honor of The Earl of Sandwich...
Engraving
A Wooded River Landscape; Entry into the Wood
By Anthonie Waterloo
Located in Middletown, NY
A magnificent forest scene with lush, vast foliage along a brook by a master of the Dutch Golden Age. Amsterdam: c1650. Etching on cream laid paper, 5 1/8 x 5 3/4 inches (130 x 147 ...
Laid Paper, Etching
The Flight into Egypt
By Hans Lautensack
Located in Middletown, NY
Etching on handmade cream laid paper with a deckle edge, and an elaborate and large watermark of a crowned figure with a harp, and letters A S, 11 3/4 x 8 inches (298 x 204 mm); shee...
Laid Paper, Etching, Handmade Paper
Paysage, Hiver
By Charles-Emile Jacque
Located in Middletown, NY
Etchings with drypoint on laid Japon paper, 3 x 4 inches (71 x 102 mm); sheet 9 x 11 3/8 inches (230 x 290 mm), full margins. In very good condition with some minor uniform toning. ...
Handmade Paper, Etching, Laid Paper, Drypoint
Paysage, Saules
By Charles-Emile Jacque
Located in Middletown, NY
Etchings with drypoint on laid Japon paper, 5 x 6 3/4 inches (128 x 172 mm); sheet 9 x 11 3/8 inches (230 x 290 mm), full margins. In very good condition with some minor uniform toni...
Handmade Paper, Laid Paper, Drypoint, Etching
$420
H 28 in W 40 in
Venice Beach Seascape, Long Wave, Nautical Scene in Blue Tones, Limited Edition
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype. This beautiful cyanotype is titled "Long Wave in Venice Beach" and it shows an outstanding wave in one of the most iconic ...
Paper, Emulsion, Watercolor, Engraving, Etching, Monotype
$420
H 40 in W 28 in
Pacific Ocean Currents, Handmade Cyanotype Seascape in Blue, Waves Landscape
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is an exclusive handprinted limited edition cyanotype. "Pacific Ocean Currents" is a handmade cyanotype print of rough water texture resembling Pacific Ocean swell. Details: + ...
Paper, Emulsion, Engraving, Etching
The Spire -- New York
By Lawrence Wilbur
Located in Plano, TX
The Spire -- New York. 1985. Etching and drypoint. 14 1/2 x 11 (sheet 22 1/2 x 18). Trial proof of the second third, prior to the edition of 100. Printed on Rives cream wove paper, on the full sheet with deckle edges. A rich impression in pristine condition, housed in an archival sleeve. This etching has never been matted. Provenance: the artist's estate. Titled, annotated 'third state - trial proof' and signed in pencil. A dramatic view of the Chrysler Building. Painter and printmaker Lawrence Nelson...
Drypoint, Etching
Building a Babylon, Tudor City, NY.
By Martin Lewis
Located in Plano, TX
McCarron 76. 12 7/8 x 7 7/8 (sheet 16 5/8 x 12 1/4). 6th trial proof (McCarron records 84 impressions including 4 trial proofs). Illustrated L'Amérique de la Dépression: Artistes En...
Etching, Drypoint
$3,875
H 24.38 in W 31.75 in D 0.75 in
Ancient Roman Architecture: Original Framed 18th C. Etching by G. Piranesi
By Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Located in Alamo, CA
"Veduta del Sepolcro della Famiglia Plauzia per la Strada Che Conduce da Roma a Tivoli vicino a Ponte Lugano" from "Le Antichità Romane" (Roman Antiquities), one of the most famous works by Piranesi. "Antichita" illustrates the tombs along the Appian Way...
Etching, Engraving, Drypoint
Dock Workers under the Brooklyn Bridge
By Martin Lewis
Located in Plano, TX
Martin Lewis, N.A. (Dock Workers under the Brooklyn Bridge). c. 1916-18. Aquatint and etching. McCarron 15. 17 3/4 x 23 3/4 (sheet 26 x 31). 5 recorde...
Etching, Aquatint
The Great Shadow
By Martin Lewis
Located in Plano, TX
The Great Shadow. 1925. Drypoint. McCarron 44. 9 7/8 x 7 inches (sheet 13 3/4 x 10 1/4). Edition of 86 recorded impressions (intended edition 100). A superb impression with carefully...
Drypoint, Etching
Trade Winds
By Martin Lewis
Located in Plano, TX
McCarron catalog number 25. Image: 7 7/8 x 11 3/4. Sheet 12 x 15 1/4. Edition of 22 recorded impressions (intended edition 50). A rich impression with drypoint burr printed on cr...
Sunday Garden Inspection.
By Martin Lewis
Located in Plano, TX
Sunday Garden Inspection. 1927. Drypoint. McCarron catalog 67 state ii. 11 3/4 x 8 (sheet 16 x 11 5/8). Edition of 34 recorded impressions (intended edition 50). A rich, well-inked...
Drypoint, Etching