Spawning III from "Portfolio of Five Prints"

Gabor Peterdi

This color intaglio utilizes many of the techniques that were being developed at Atelier 17, where Peterdi studied in Paris the 1930s and again in New York in the 40s. "Spawning III” was created using relief etching for the background, engraving for the linear and negative elements and five stenciled colors.

“Spawning III" was included in the "Portfolio of Five Prints", by Gabor Peterdi and published by Ted Gotthelf of Rio Grande Graphics. Though proposed as an edition of 200 only 50 were actually printed.

Gotthelf allegedly numbered the portfolios randomly, as if all were printed, in order to make the portfolios appear more successful than they were. If the 50 portfolios had sold they would do subsequent printing campaigns, up to the 200. It didn't happen. Though proposed as an edition of 200 only 50 were actually printed.