Sunday, October 28, 2012

Signed James Sanford Hulme - MacDougal Street, Greenwich Village, NYC - Colored Silk-Screen Serigraph

I found my first and second artworks by James Sanford Hulme at a thrift store this August! I was firstly thought they are both lithograph, but when I read closely to a 56 years old "The Village Voice" newspaper on Google, I realized that they are very likely be silk-screen serigraph that produced by the artist.

So, what is lithograph?
A lithograph is a type of printing process during which an original artwork can be printed and reproduced, created by an artist or other skilled craftsmen. The process for creating lithographs does not require a print-maker to first etch the image into metal plates. Prints can be made of original artwork, first created on a stone table or metal plate, and images from paintings or drawings can be duplicated with this method. If the quality of a lithograph is excellent and the production numbers are low, it could have significant value in the art world.

What is serigraph or silk screen serigraph?
Serigraphy is a combination word from Seri (means ‘silk’ in Latin) and graphein (means ‘to write or draw’ in Greek).
Silkscreen or serigraph is a color hand-stencil printmaking process that uses a fabric screen for printing; the special paint is forced through a fine screen onto a paper beneath, areas which not print are blocked in each of the stencil screens. Then a sheet of high quality archival paper is inserted under the screen and special paint poured along the edge of frame. Squeegee is pulled from back to front for producing a direct transfer of the image. To color, it requires separate stencil for each color in each serigraph. This type of printing can be done relatively fast and many colors can be used.
Screen printing was first appeared in China during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD). It was then adapted by Japan and largely introduced to Western Europe in late 18th century, however it did not gain large use in Europe until silk mesh was more available for trade from the east.

Lets look at my #2 collection - MacDougal Street, Greenwich Village, NYC:


Purchased on August 29, 2012



See how colorful it is for the buildings, cars and pedestrians
  
Look at the dog! His reflection is in the car exterior
  
 
On the top of the building, you may find the NY's iconic water tank
  

Typical American-style fire escapes mounted outside of the yellow building
  

Taken with flash


Original handwritten title


Original Signature

Below is an article from The Village Voice, September 5, 1956 that reports James Sanford Hulme very first art show in Washington Square, NYC:



James Sanford Hulme was a painter, print maker and illustrator who lived for many years in White Plains, New York, and completed many serigraphs of his surroundings in Westchester County. Of special interest to him were local landmarks that he worked to preserve.

He was born in Oklahoma in 1900 and passed away in New York in 1974, he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago with Elmer Forsberg, whose specialty was print media. He also studied at the Grand Central Art School and took etching and lithography from George Bellows and Joseph Pennell. He served on the faculty of the Chicago Art Institute and then went to New York City to work as an illustrator. Commissions included magazines such as "Boys' Life", "People's Home Journal" and "Liberty Magazine", and in 1933, Hulme illustrated "Robbers Roost" by Zane Grey (1933). He also did technical illustrations for companies, developed drawings for desert warfare equipment and did drawings for NASA including for the Apollo space program.

Hulme was a member of the of the Brooklyn Society of Artists; Federated Artists Guild of America; Hudson Valley Art Association; and Chappaqua Art & Craft Guild. Exhibition venues included the American Watercolor Society, Riverside Museum, Philadelphia Watercolor Society and the Art Institute of Chicago. His works are part of the permanent exhibition of the Grange College, Bengal, NY; Wesleyan College, Macon, GA; and Knaben-Volkschule, Gustrow, Mecklenburg, Germany. He is listed in "Who Was Who in American Art;" "The Artists Bluebook;" "Index of Artists (Mallett);" "Mallett Library of Reproductions;" and "Artist Biographies Master Index (McNeil)."

Image size: 9" x 11"
Frame size: 14" x 18"
Colored Silk-Screen Serigraph, signed
Artist Biography:
http://www.askart.com/AskART/artists/biography.aspx?artist=125948
Artist news on The Village Voice:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1299&dat=19560905&id=IN4QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EIwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6239,2597842

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_printing
http://www.hernandezfineart.com/serigraf.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-lithograph.htm
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/serigraphy?r=14

5 comments:

  1. I have 2 paintings that I believe are watercolor by James Sanford Hulme. One is of Wall Street and the other is of the New York Stock Exchange. They belonged to my grandfather who owned a seat on the Exchange in the 1930's and 1940's. I am interested in selling them and would like to know what they are worth. I think it is interesting that Mr. Hulme lived in White Plains, as my family and I lived in White Plains for over 50 years. My e mail is NY1157@gmail.com.
    Thank you! Nancy Young

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry Nancy. I have forgotten to reply your message.
      Thank you for visiting my blog, it is so nice to know the story you have with his artworks and that you are living in the same neighborhood as Mr. Hulme! I actually have no information on how much his works are worth. (and I want to know it too!)
      Please update me if you had find a new home for them. And hope you enjoy his artworks!
      Best,
      J. Wong

      Delete
  2. Thank you for posting. We have about 10 in this series and just googled to learn more about him and found your post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you Laura, I have not updated the blog for over a year already and you message is just reminded me to keep writing those beautiful arts that I obtain on the street.
    Best,
    J. Wong

    ReplyDelete
  4. Found a picture of the artist Hulme and it’s on a heavy paper. Reads “Radio City Tours, NYC. It’s a weird looking picture. Anyone know anything about this one?

    ReplyDelete