Southwest Impressions | Denver Art Museum

Southwest Impressions: Prints from the Barbara J. Thompson Collection, on view in the Western American Art galleries, highlights works on paper by artists who lived or traveled in the American Southwest during the late 1800s and first half of the 1900s, drawing inspiration from the region's unique landscapes, people, architecture, and animals. The exhibition celebrates Barbara J. Thompson’s collection of over 100 prints gifted to the Petrie Institute of Western American Art (PIWAA) in 2024 in honor of her grandfather, the printmaker C. A. Seward.

Southwest Impressions acknowledges the important role of printmaking in western American art, particularly during the first half of the 20th century. Presented in two rotations of around fifty prints each, visitors will be guided through a range of print processes including intaglio, block printing, lithography, and serigraphy.

Canyon landscape painting of Rio, Colorado — Louie H. Ewing, *Rio Colorado*, n.d. Serigraphon paper; 13 x 17 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward, 2024.45. © Estate Louie H. Ewing

Large Native American man sitting in traditional wear — Howard Cook, *“Big John” (Taos Indian John Lujan)*, 1927. Woodblock print on paper; 13 1/8 x 11 7/8 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward. 2024.26

Woman in pueblo hut baking bread in Taos New Mexico — Anna Barry, *Baking Bread - Taos Pueblo*, 1946. Serigraph on paper; 5 1/8 × 7 3/8 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward, 2023.553

Lithograph image of a large man with a shovel laying bricks — Kenneth Miller Adams, *Brick Maker*, about 1931. Lithograph; 9 1/4 x 9 7/8 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward, 2024.11. © Estate of Kenneth Miller Adams

Rows of pueblo dwellings stacked together in a square image — Ray Bethers, *Pueblo*, about 1932. Wood engraving on paper; 9 1/8 x 10 5/8 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward, 2024.17. © Estate Ray Bethers

Lightly colored white sands hills — JessieJo Eckford, *White Sands (New Mexico)*, about 1930s. Color woodblock on paper; 9 1/2 x 12 1/4 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward, 2024.43. © Estate JessieJo Eckford

Two eagles mid-flight facing each other — Gene Kloss, *Taos Eagle Dancers,* 1955. Drypoint etching with aquatint on paper; 13 1/4 x 16 3/8 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward, 2024.64. © Estate of Gene Kloss

Small print of figures in a landscape gathered around a harvest — Peter Moran, *Threshing Harvest, San Juan New Mexico*, 1883. Engraving on paper; 13 7/8 x 18 3/8 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward, 2024.72.

Lithograph drawing of a woman entering a pueblo dwelling — C.A. Seward, *Pueblo Memories*, 1937. Lithograph on paper; 12 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward, 2024.91. © Estate of C.A. Seward

Lithograph drawing of a group of dwellings in a light rain — C.A. Seward, *Sunshine and Shower*, 1928. Lithograph on paper; 12 7/8 x 14 1/2 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward, 2024.94. © Estate of C.A. Seward

Lithograph drawing of a group of deer in the brush — Theodore Van Soelen, *Morning*, n.d. Lithograph on paper; 17 3/4 x 23 in. Denver Art Museum: Gift of Barbara J. Thompson in Memory of C.A. Seward, 2024.105. © Estate of Theodore Van Soelen

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Southwest Impressions is organized by the Denver Art Museum. It is made possible by a generous gift of art from Barbara J. Thompson made in honor of her grandfather, the printmaker, C. A. Seward. Additional support is provided by the Elder Family Giving Fund, Harmes C. Fishback Foundation, the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS Colorado.

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