Orientale

Frank Joseph Van Sloun

A fine example of Van Sloun's monotypes - a nude woman in a garden, standing with arms raised in apparent wonder. He was associated with the Ashcan School in New York, many of whom were exploring monotype as a medium, including Robert Henri, Arthur B. Davies, John Sloan and Maurice Prendergast.

Joann Moser in the book "Singular Impressions: The Monotupe in America" notes, on page 113:

"He (Van Souln) learned the basic techniques of etching and monotype as well as painting and became especially interested in Rembrandt's etchings, seeking in his own etchings and monotypes the Dutch master's soft burr and chiaroscuro effects.

Van Sloun drew directly ofn the plate and developed a method of applying full-strength acid to the etching without the use of a ground. Although he was intrigued by the soft-focus effect of the monotype, he was disturbed by the accidental nature of the medium and experimented with methods to obtain a more controllable and predictable outcome.

Van Sloun developed a special combination of inks and oil paints that would retain the images and also special processes for printing them....in later years he developed a technique technique that he called a "pen monotype," in which the image was created by line alone."