Description
Otto Bacher’s “Fondamenta della Zattere,” 1880
“Fondamenta della Zattere” is a limited-edition etching crafted by the distinguished American artist, Otto Bacher, in 1880.
Details and Care
This artwork is exquisitely printed on fine china paper and set on a larger sheet of wove paper, as issued by the American Art Review in an exclusive edition of 500 prints. Signed and dated 1880 by Bacher himself, it’s located in the bottom right corner of the plate. Kept in pristine condition, the piece was stored in an architectural flat file drawer within a smoke-free environment. All our artworks are carefully preserved in tissue and/or plastic sleeves and are shipped flat for their protection. This artwork benefits from professional matting, using acid-free materials, and is safely enclosed in an acetate sleeve.
Diving into Otto Bacher’s World
Otto Henry Bacher, renowned as one of America’s premier late 19th-century artists, initiated his artistic journey under the guidance of Willis Adams in Cleveland. In 1878, he furthered his studies at the esteemed Royal Academy in Munich, Germany. Between 1879 and 1882, Bacher’s artistic endeavors took him to Florence and Venice. During this time, in 1880, he cultivated a deep camaraderie with the legendary Whistler. Their collaborative efforts birthed groundbreaking Venetian etchings, initially shocking critics with their unbridled expressiveness but later recognized as pivotal masterpieces of modern art.
Fueled by the European etching prodigies like James McNeill Whistler, Charles Meryon, and Sir Francis Seymour Haden, numerous American artists embraced etching ardently by 1875. Bacher returned to America in 1883, educating budding artists at the Cleveland Academy of Art. Eventually, he made New York his home, exhibiting his masterpieces there and in global art hubs like London, Philadelphia, and Paris. He was subsequently honored with an Associate membership at the National Academy of Design.
The Influence of the American Art Review
The American Art Review, operative from 1879 to 1881, emerged as a significant force driving America’s etching renaissance. Under the adept editorship of Sylvester Rosa Koehler, this journal commissioned original etchings from premier American artists. Esteemed contributors included luminaries like James David Smillie, Thomas Moran, Stephen Parrish, Henry Farrer, Charles Adams Platt, and William Merritt Chase, among others.
While its high-end production led to its brief run, the Review’s intricately etched artworks laid the foundation for American etching’s golden era in the early 20th century. Notably, Otto Bacher’s portrayal of the Venetian “Fondamenta della Zattere” finds a dedicated mention in the American Art Review by S.R. Koehler (Vol. 2 No. 12, October 1881) complete with a visual of this exquisite piece.
View artwork by Otto Bacher.
