State Street Columbia

Charles Frederick Surendorf

This blockprint by Northern California printmaker Charles Surendorf was done around 1946. The subject of the composition is a few historic buildings on State Street (Main Street) in Columbia, California where the artist had established his studio and gallery in 1946. Columbia was founded as a gold rush boomtown in 1850 and is located in the Mother Lode country of the Sierra foothills. It has been designated a Historic Park, and outdoor museum.

Surendorf, a colorful character, sold his prints in his gallery, publishing them in editions of 100 impressions, not designating specific edition numbers.

The Columbia website states: "Visiting Columbia is like traveling back in time to the sights, smells, and sounds of a nineteenth century mining town—merchants dressed in 1850’s attire, a whiff of coal smoke from the blacksmith shop, and the rumble of a stagecoach pulling into town! Spend the day enjoying fun activities for the whole family. Pan for gold, explore exhibits, ride the stagecoach, discover unique shops, and learn about the rich history of the California gold rush on a guided town tour."