Thomas Handforth was born in 1897 and spent his early years in Tacoma, Washington. After his discharge from the Army in 1919 and completion of his formal art training in New York City, he began to explore, with the assistance of several grants, much of Europe and North Africa. His etchings and lithographs record his impressions of the cultures he visited. Handforth returned to the Pacific Northwest for a brief stay before once again setting out on a world wide journey. six of his years abroad were spent in China where he established a studio in Peking. Following a second discharge from the Army in 1943, Handforth resided in Washington State, New York City and Los Angeles, where he died in 1948. Besides using his artistic ability to capture images of the countries he visited, Handforth also illustrated several books. His prints were published regularly in the periodical Fine Prints of the Year during the 1920's and 1930's. The Print Corner handled the sale of his prints in the United States.
Japan. Title:"Young Girl in Harlequin Costume" 18/78 Signed in pencil. Title:"Morning and Evening" written on print, whether by artist or someone else is unknown. Color
Title: "An October Tea Ceremony" or "Yoshiwara, Events of the Year, 10th Month". Publisher's Seal: Wakasaya "Kiwame" Seal. "Oiran" in the foreground. The drawing in the circle illustrates the event of that month. A tea ceremony.
A second identical print exist in the print collection. One of the 28 prints by Wendell Black, Owned by the OSU foundation and stored by the art department for safe keeping. For awhile they were stored in the archieves in cardboard boxes and in newsprintk, which was beginning to stain and ruin these prints. The art department via Douglas Russell, curator and Berkley Chappell, Chairman, offered to store them in teh Collections print file to protect them. Black and white print, signed and titled on the bottom of print.
A second identical print exist in the print collection. Framed. One of the 28 prints by Wendell Black, Owned by the OSU foundation and stored by the art department for safe keeping. For awhile they were stored in the archieves in cardboard boxes and in newsprintk, which was beginning to stain and ruin these prints. The art department via Douglas Russell, curator and Berkley Chappell, Chairman, offered to store them in teh Collections print file to protect them. Black and white print, signed and titled on the bottom of print.