The Lantern
1931
Medium
Graphic Arts-Print
Classification
Graphic Arts-Print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Katz
Accession Number
1971.417
Tags
Art Historical Context
**The Lantern** (1931) is a striking etching by Kerr Eby a master American printmaker known for his meticulous realism and atmospheric landscapes. Born in Canada and active in the U.S., Eby captured the raw beauty and quiet drama of everyday scenes during the interwar period, often drawing from coastal New England or his wartime experiences in Europe. This graphic arts print, housed in the Smithsonian American Art, exemplifies his skill in etching—a technique where acid bites into a metal plate to create intricate lines and tonal depths, allowing for rich contrasts and subtle textures unachiev...
About the Artist
Kerr Eby
Kerr Eby (1889–1946) was a Canadian-born American printmaker and painter who became one of the most accomplished etchers of his generation and a powerful chronicler of the experience of war. Born in Tokyo to Canadian parents, he grew up in New York and studied at the Pratt Institute and the Art Students League under George Bridgman. Eby volunteered for service in World War I and saw action in Fra...