BERTHA E. JAQUES AND THE CHICAGO SOCIETY OF ETCHERS

Bertha Jaques (1863-1941) was born in Covington, Ohio, and did not start printmaking until her 30s, after visiting the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition and being inspired by works by Whistler, Tissot, and Zorn. Her husband, a surgeon, crafted etching tools from surgical instruments, enabling her to create her first etching in 1894 with a press she purchased. Over her 46-year career, she produced 461 prints and over 1,000 cyanotype photographs, becoming a key figure in the art community as a founder of the Chicago Society of Etchers in 1910, where she served as secretary/treasurer for 27 years. Despite being largely self-taught, Jaques was an influential teacher and author of Concerning Etchings (1912), emphasizing the power of line in her work. She was especially known for her prints of wildflowers and ferns, inspired by her desire to promote their preservation, reflecting her environmental awareness. Her pioneering role as a woman artist in a male-dominated field helped popularize etching in America, though her full impact remains under-recognized and deserving of renewed appreciation. Out of Print. Condition: Fine Plus. Light edge wear along top front cover.