Venetian Glassblowers (After John Singer Sargent)

John William Evans

American woodengraver John William Evans (1855-1943) did this woodengraving of a painting by painter John Singer Sargent (1860-1925). The painting, done in 1880/82 is in the Art Institute of Chicago.

In the 19th century, before photography came into its own reproductions of paintings for publications were done in other graphic media, including woodengraving. Done on the endgrain of a block the artists were able to capture the shapes and subtleties of oil on canvas. The blocks had to be carved in reverse, using special optical and engraving tools.

Evans won a silver medal for his woodengravings in 1915 at the Panama Pacific International Exhibition where his colleague Henry Wolf was awarded the Grand Prize. He exhibited an impression of "Making Glass Beads" after Sargent there, and may be an alternative title for this image.