Philip Pearlstein

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Philip Pearlstein (1924-2022) was the first artist invited to work at Graphicstudio. Between 1969 and 1986 he executed seven lithographs of female nudes, characteristic of the figurative style for which he is best known. However, Pearlstein has always maintained an interest in the landscape. His later works for Graphicstudio, 1987-1989, are landscapes including View of Rome and the masterwork Jerusalem, Kidron Valley.

Jerusalem, Kidron Valley

After focusing on the figure during the 1960's, Pearlstein returned to landscape subjects in the 1970's, applying the methodology of his mature style to the rendering of landscape and ruins. Pearlstein's fascination with ancient architectural sites was fueled by his time spent in Italy during a Fulbright Fellowship in 1958. Pearlstein travelled for the first time to Jerusalem in October of 1986 to make the 10 foot long watercolor for this monumental print, Jerusalem, Kidron Valley. At Graphicstudio, a new process was developed specifically for this project, photographic woodblock or "heliorelief," which utilizes sandblasting rather than hand carving for the making of woodblocks. The artist transferred his watercolor to mylar sheets that were then used to make the blocks. Pearlstein further refined the imagery by handworking the blocks with a roulette. The print is made in two sections from ten sets of blocks of different woods—birch, walnut, cherry and gumwood. The transparent colors and white paper retain the feel of the watercolor as source for the print.

Nude Curled Up, Two Nudes, Models with Mirror, Two Models with Green Bench and Mirror, Two Female Models on Rocker and Stool

Pearlstein began at Graphicstudio by executing a group of drawings directly from the model. Each of these prints offer a different compositional alternative for the arrangement of the curled nude figure. Pearlstein works in close proximity to his models and the cropping of the figures is "a result of the struggle to find the proper scale of forms within the rectangular."

 

Further Resources

Artist's Site: philippearlstein.com

Printmaking + Sculpture Terms

Printmaking Glossary

Sculpture Glossary

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For sales, or more information about an edition, please contact Graphicstudio at (813) 974-3503 or gsoffice@usf.edu.

Copyright + Reproduction

Images of the artwork are jointly owned by the artist and Graphicstudio. Reproduction of any kind including electronic media must be expressly approved by Graphicstudio.