Praise to the End! (Part One), by Theodore Roethke, from 21 Etchings and Poems

 

Adja Yunkers

  1900 - 1983 (biography)

1960  

etching and aquatint 

14 1/4 x 12 1/2" platemark 

unsigned state proof 

artist's proof outside the edition of 50 

"2" in pencil, bottom left corn margin, recto, and "145" in pencil, bottom right corner of sheet, verso 

"21 Etching and Poems" plate 21. 

cream wove Arches 

proof on Arches, before etched lines were added to the aquatint in the lower center and the removal of some foul biting. 

Morris Gallery, New York 

21039 

$750.00 

The Prospectus for the "21 Etchings and Poems" read:

“This long-awaited portfolio of original etchings was initiated at Atelier 17 New York, in 1951, under Peter Grippe’s direction. Each poem is in the poet’s handwriting, in most instances, engraved by the poet himself.

It will be published in October 1958 by Morris Weisenthatl, himself one of the early contributors, and now director of the Morris Gallery. Mr. Grippe and he, over a period of years, enlarged the scope of the project to include many celebrated artists and poets.

Dylan Thomas, in life and memory, was the spirit behind the task. James Johnson Sweeney, Director of the Solomon r. Guggenheim Museum, has written an Introduction."

The edition is limited to 50 numbered copies, printed on Rives paper. This etching and aquatint by Yunkers was the 21st of 21 etchings in the portfolio.

The portfolio "21 Etchings and Poems" was a collaboration between 21 poets and printmakers, printed in an edition of 50, plus 12 artist’s proofs, conceived in 1951 at Atelier 17 in New York and finished in 1960, printed by Anderson-Lamb, published by Morris Weisenthal and the Morris Gallery. The paper size for each print is approximately 20 x 16-3/4” and was contained in a blue linen portfolio box with Publisher’s Note and a Contents sheets.

This Theodore Roethke poem reads: It's dark in this wood, soft mocker. / For whom have I swelled like a seed? / What a bone-ache I have. / Father of Tensions, I'm down to my skin at last. // It's a great day for the mice. / Prickle-me, tickle-me, close stems. / Bumpkin, he can dance alone. / Ooh, ooh, I'm a duke of eels. // Arch my back, pretty-bones, I'm dead at both ends. / Softly softly, you'll wake the clams. / I'll feed the ghost alone. / Father, forgive my hands. // The rings have gone from the pond. / The rover's alone with its water. / All risings / Fall.