Lake Tahoe

Frances Gearhart

An exceptional example of Frances Gearhart's color relief prints of the mountains of the Western US. This image is unusual in that she rarely identifies her subjects but titled this as "Lake Tahoe". Lake Tahoe is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, straddling California and Nevada. It is noted for its deep blue water and majestic surroundings, both of which Gearhart captures in her composition.

Gearhart used a linoleum key-block, printed with blue ink, to created the linear elements for this landscape and then brushed color on a tone block. As a result of this direct approach each impression will vary in color to some degree. The ink on this impression sits thickly on the surface.

Gearhart used oil based inks on many of her prints and over time the oil has bled into the margin, creating a "halo" outside the heavy blue line, which creates a visual barrier between the margins and the composition.