Eucalypti

Cornelis Botke

Cornelis and his wife, Jessie Arms Botke worked together printing their color relief prints near Santa Barbara, California often annotating them as "Botke Prints", such as this impression.

Another impression of this rare color linocut is illustrated in "A Spectrum of Innovation, Color in American Printmaking 1890-1960" by David Acton, Worcester Art Museum, 1990, page 107.

Acton speaks elequently about this print on page 106: "With his masterful, delicate handling of color and light, Botke achieved impressive effects of ambiance and space in his prints. The atmosphere and artificial color of 'Eucalyti' mark the print as the creation of an accomplished landscape watercolorist.

The artist used no literal colors in this composition giving the image a pleasing, dreamlike quality. The choice of the tall eucalyptus trees, which flourish in coastal California, exemplifies Botke's preference for local subjects, and suggests that he worked from his own watercolor sketches. The pastel hues and soothing, hazy atmosphere suggests stylistic influence of the Arts and Crafts movement..."