The Squall (after Carlton T. Chapman)

John William Evans

American woodengraver John William Evans (1855-1943) did this woodengraving of a painting by nautical artist/illustrator Carlton Theodore Chapman (1860-1925). The whereabouts of the painting is unknown at this time.

In the 19th century, before photography came into its own reproductions of paintings for publications were done in other graphic media, including woodengraving. Done on the endgrain of a block the artists were able to capture the shapes and subtleties of oil on canvas. The blocks had to be carved in reverse, using special optical and engraving tools.

Often the painter and printmaker would collaborate on the image and, as in the case of this impression, both sign a few impressions together before the image was printed for publication.

Evans won a silver medal for his woodengravings in 1915 at the Panama Pacific International Exhibition where his colleague Henry Wolf was awarded the Grand Prize.