Untitled (transfer drawing for Capri from Sorrento)

Art Historical Context

George Elbert Burr's *Untitled (transfer drawing for from Sorrento)*, around the 1920s, captures a picturesque Mediterranean vista from the cliffs of Sorrento toward the island of Capri. This preparatory highlights a iconic pine tree in the foreground, framing the distant blue silhouette of Capri—a timeless symbol of Italian coastal beauty that drew artists and travelers alike during the early 20th century. housed in the Smithsonian American Art through the bequest of Carolann Smurthwaite, it offers a glimpse into Burr's exploratory phase beyond his renowned American landscapes. As an American etcher and printmaker (1859–1939), Burr was celebrated for his atmospheric depictions of nature, often blending impressionistic light effects with precise line work. This transfer drawing served as a key intermediate step in printmaking, where the image would be traced or pressed onto a plate for etching or lithography, allowing for intricate tonal variations. Crafted during a period when American artists embraced European sojourns post-World War I, it reflects the era's fascination with luminous southern light and rugged terrain, inviting viewers to imagine the sea breeze and vibrant hues Burr sought to immortalize.

About the Artist

George Elbert Burr · 1859–1939

George Elbert Burr was an American printmaker and watercolorist whose career spanned the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, earning him a reputation as one of the foremost etchers of the American West. Born in 1859 in Monroe Falls, Ohio, Burr trained as a commercial illustrator before turning his full attention to fine art. He honed his craft through diligent self-study and close obser...