Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass”: The Unpublished Art of Maynard Dixon
May 31 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of one of the foremost poets in American literature, Walt Whitman. To celebrate, Special Collections is exhibiting one of its most unique items from our Walt Whitman Collection: a suite of tempera paintings by Maynard Dixon, which were intended to illustrate a never-published edition of Whitman’s poetry collection, Leaves of Grass.
Dixon (1875-1946) created these illustrations between 1929 and 1933. He was living in San Francscio at the time and may have been encouraged in the project by the distinguished fine press printers Edwin and Robert Grabhorn, who were working on their own edition of the book around the same period (the Grabhorn edition, which they considered one of their finest works, can also be found in Special Collections). The Dixon Leaves of Grass collection consists of 18 pieces, including seven tempera paintings measuring approximately 6 x 9 inches, and eleven smaller drawings in tempera and ink. Eight of these are on display in the small case exhibit on display in the Special Collections Reference area this month.
"Walt Whitman, ""Leaves of Grass: The Unpublished Art of Maynard Dixon"" - Machi 31, 2001 - ""Uchoraji wa Maandishi ya Kihispania""" "Kutokana na tukio hilo, kampuni ya ""Special Collections"" imeweka kwenye maonyesho moja moja moja ya vitu vyake vya kipekee kutoka kwa mkusanyiko wetu wa Walt Whitman: seti ya michoro ya tempera ya Maynard Dixon, ambayo ilikusudiwa kuelezea toleo lisilotangazwa la mkusanyiko wa mashairi ya Whitman, ""Leaves of Grass.""" Dixon (1875-1946) aliunda michoro hii kati ya 1929 na 1933. Aliishi San Francisco wakati huo na huenda alitiwa moyo katika mradi huo na wachapishaji mashuhuri wa uchapishaji Edwin na Robert Grabhorn, ambao walikuwa wakifanya kazi kwenye toleo lao la kitabu hicho karibu na kipindi hicho hicho (toleo la Grabhorn, ambalo walichukulia kuwa moja ya kazi zao bora, pia linaweza kupatikana katika Makusanyo Maalum). "Kichapo cha ""Dixon Leaves of Grass"" kina picha 18 za rangi ya tempera, pamoja na picha 7 za rangi ya tempera zenye ukubwa wa inchi 6 x 9 na picha 11 ndogo za rangi ya tempera na wino." Nane kati ya hizo zinaonyeshwa katika maonyesho madogo ya kesi yaliyoonyeshwa katika eneo la Marejeo ya Makusanyo Maalum mwezi huu.