The Rug Weaver

Gustave Baumann

The Rug Weaver was originally published by the artist in 1910 for his portfolio of twelve color woodcuts, In the Hills o’ Brown. Impressions were printed over several years and color variations occurred. There are photographs of the children peering into the window in the Gustave Baumann Archive (PAAC.076.01.0115 and PAAC.076.01.0116). A photographic negative was inscribed by Baumann on its paper mat: “[Fred] Hetherington’s grandchildren.” Nashville, where Baumann opened his studio in 1910, was in the county called Brown. Later in life, Baumann wrote about Brown County and its inhabitants. This quote is from his writing: Home industries that might all be put under the general heading of Handicraft were making their silent departure as they already had beyond the county line. Among other things a loom not being used found its way to my Studio with no one to hear the “get busy” call and make the shuttles fly. Up the hill and several miles out of town there lived a Mrs. Simons with a “don’t give up” temperament who persisted in weaving to the limit of her ability. Then bringing in the fruits of her labor for us to admire and make an occasional sale.