William S. Rice: Yosemite Notecard Folio

William S. Rice’s earliest paintings reflect the wonder of the Sierra Nevada, particularly the Yosemite Valley. Known primarily for his block prints, Rice’s watercolors exhibit a masterful technique and acute sensitivity. These two paintings artfully and faithfully present the awe-inspiring natural monuments of one of America’s greatest national parks. Contains five each of the following notecards: Half Dome, n.d. Yosemite Falls, 1901

William S. Rice

William Seltzer Rice (American, 1873–1963) found endless inspiration in nature, creating a vast number of watercolors, drawings, photographs, and prints. He moved to his adopted home of Northern California in 1900, just before the region’s Arts and Crafts movement ignited. A prolific watercolorist, Rice taught at various San Francisco Bay Area schools, including the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland—a center for the movement. He became devoted to block printing for its suitability to the Arts and Crafts ethos of making artwork available to a wide audience at modest cost. Being a skilled craftsman as well as an artist, Rice designed, carved, and printed the blocks all himself. Today his masterful artwork can be found in public and private collections worldwide.