Rago Auctions

Born in 1881 in Magdeburg, Germany, highly regarded artist, Gustave Baumann, immigrated to the United States in 1891, settling in Chicago. His early exposure to the city's vibrant arts scene ignited his growing passion to pursue a creative life. As a student at the Art Institute of Chicago, Baumann refined his skills in printmaking and cultivated a profound appreciation for traditional craftsmanship. Through his diligent efforts, Baumann earned a scholarship, which allowed him to continue studying at the Art Institute.

In 1918, Baumann relocated to the artistic enclave of Brown County in Indiana. This move marked the onset of a prolific period in his career. Inspired by the scenic landscape and rural life, Baumann's increasingly intricate work began to reflect the subtleties of his surroundings. Notably, his woodcut prints captured the essence of the region with remarkable detail and a vibrant color palette. During this time, Baumann was already dedicated to the traditional European method of color relief printing with oil-based inks and printing his blocks on a small press, as opposed to the then fashionable hand-rubbed woodblock printing technique borrowed from Japanese art.

Baumann ventured to New Mexico in 1919. He settled first at the artists' colony in Taos, but, deeming it too crowded and sociable for his tastes, Baumann took the train to quieter Santa Fe, whose art museum had opened the year prior. As a resident of Santa Fe, Baumann befriended other artists and embraced the local community, letting Native American and Hispanic culture influence his style. In 1925, Baumann married Jane Devereaux Henderson and the couple had a daughter, Ann, two years later. Altogether, Baumann would live in New Mexico for over fifty years until he died there in 1971.

A distinctive aspect of Baumann's artistry was his unwavering dedication to the traditional craft of color woodcut printmaking. His meticulous approach involved carving a separate block for each color in his prints, a time-consuming process that underscored his commitment to precision and quality. This technique became synonymous with Baumann's work and contributed significantly to the lasting legacy of his art. Compositions by Baumann are now held in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, the New York Public Library, and other notable institutions.