The Old Oak

Clark Hobart

On the verso of the old frame, written on the old backing paper, is Clark Hobart's signature along with two of his addresses in San Francisco. The first, 1367 Post St. San Francisco, was struck through and beneath it was written 1372 Sutter St. Lower on the sheet in the same handwriting was the title "The Old Oak."

Also on the verso were two small pieces of paper with the following description of the monotype process in green ink:

"A 'monotype' is perhaps the most severe test of an artist's creative skill. It is painted on copper in oil and while damp is transferred by means of a wringer to the paper, which is its final form. The composition is conceived and painted without the change of a single stroke in the limited time to make possible the transfer to the paper. Should a stroke should [sic] be added on top of the first stroke it would be covered by the first stroke in the transfer."

Clark Hobart was an artist member of the Bohemian Club in San Francisco. Horbat was part of a group of California printmakers who were working in monotype in the early 20th century and, with Xavier Martinez, exhibited them at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition in 1915. He won a Silver Medal for his 12 monotypes.