Gus Baumann Sketch Booklet

Gustave Baumann

Gus Baumann Sketch Booklet is a curiosity as we do not know Baumann's intention in assembling this hand-stitched booklet. He had been working on a book to be entitled Woodcut Impressions of New Mexico but the book never progressed past the mock-up stage. Nine of the woodcuts in Gus Baumann Sketch Booklet are smaller format versions of woodcuts carved for Woodcut Impressions of New Mexico. The sketch booklet contains miniaturized images derived from Baumann’s color woodcuts Quiet Corner, Desert Interlude, Desert Gossip, and Cordova Plaza. The abstract cover was printed from the same block used to print the cover of Baumann’s book Chips an’ Shavings with a second block overprinting some of the negative space. Many of the related drawings are in the New Mexico Museum of Art. Gus Baumann Sketch Booklet is quite rare with only six booklets known.