The Autobiography of Gustave Baumann

Gustave Baumann began his career as a commercial artist in Chicago. A craftsman by nature, he turned his hand to traditional woodcut printmaking. He joined other artists in the hill country of Brown County, Indiana, where he pursued his goal of creating “good pictures at low cost.” He eventually settled in Santa Fe and became an active member of the community, all while mastering the painstaking art of the color woodblock print. Written when he was nearing 70, The Autobiography of Gustave Baumann illuminates the personality of the artist through anecdotes of town and family life, observations of society, and musings about the role of artists and their art. Baumann’s personal stories highlight his charming humor, his philosophies on art, and his unwavering commitment to the Santa Fe community.The book is thoroughly annotated by Martin Krause with details of personal, cultural, and historical significance.

Gustave Baumann

Gustave Baumann (American, 1881–1971) drew on the invigorating influences of European and American artists, along with watercolor painters and Native American potters, to produce complex color woodblock prints that reveal a country both delicate and rugged, personal and mythic. Brought from Germany to Chicago as a boy, Baumann supported his family financially while still a teenager, when he worked at an engraver’s and discovered an affinity for printmaking. He took night classes in art and saved enough money to study block printing in Munich. Back in the United States, his travels brought him to New Mexico, where he perfected his signature style and for more than 50 years captured the crystalline light and rich colors of the Southwest with affection and subtlety.