"Ranchos de Taos, N.M." 1944, Etching and Drypoint.

Edition: probably less than 100, this print numbered in pen, XVI, lower left under plate impression. Signed in pen, James McBey, under the plate impression, and in the plate, both lower right; titled in the plate, Ranchos de Taos, N.M., lower right; dated in the plate, 9 February 1942, lower right.

Image: 7 x 12 7/8 inches (177 x 326 mm). Sheet: 9 3/4 x 14 3/4 inches (247 x 374 mm).

Excellent condition. Good margins. An interesting perspective of the old church (San Francisco de Asis) in Ranchos de Taos. The image depicts a view along the  Old Santa Fe Road (before Highway 68 was built), dropping down from Llano Quemado and crossing Rio Grande del Rancho. Although the print is dated in the plate, 9 February 1942, information on file with the Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums, pertaining to a similar print donated by McBey's estate, the image was actually created in 1944. The family contributed some annotation on the print upon donation (spelling of place names have been corrected), McBey and his wife had left war infested Europe and were touring the United States:

Traveling back to the East Coast of America from California, the McBeys headed north, following the Rio Grande. At the southern end of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range, they emerged onto the magnificent sweep of country that forms Taos plateau.

At Ranchos de Taos they turned off to see the missionary church there and at Pueblo de Taos, James sketched the scene, a drawing that he later worked up into this etching.

$1,400.00

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