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Pen to Paper: Artists' Handwritten Letters from the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art
Even in this age of emails, texts, and tweets, there is an ongoing fascination with the simple act of putting pen to paper. Associations such as the International Association of Master Penmen and the Society for Italic Handwriting keep the traditions of calligraphy and penmanship alive, hand-writing typefaces continue to sell, and hand-drawn display type and packaging of all sorts enjoy a renaissance.
Pen to Paper , a collection of letters by artists from the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art, reveals how letter writing can be an artistic act, just as an artist puts pen to paper to craft a line in a drawing. Brief essays explore what can be learned from the handwriting of celebrated artists such as Mary Cassatt, Frederic Church, Howard Finster, Winslow Homer, Ray Johnson, Rockwell Kent, Georgia O'Keeffe, Claes Oldenburg, Maxfield Parrish, Eero Saarinen, Saul Steinberg, and many others. Each letter is accompanied by an archival image of the artist or a related artwork, with a full transcription. Pen to Paper provides a fresh way to think about artists and their creative work and is sure to inspire your next handwritten note or letter.
Pen to Paper , a collection of letters by artists from the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art, reveals how letter writing can be an artistic act, just as an artist puts pen to paper to craft a line in a drawing. Brief essays explore what can be learned from the handwriting of celebrated artists such as Mary Cassatt, Frederic Church, Howard Finster, Winslow Homer, Ray Johnson, Rockwell Kent, Georgia O'Keeffe, Claes Oldenburg, Maxfield Parrish, Eero Saarinen, Saul Steinberg, and many others. Each letter is accompanied by an archival image of the artist or a related artwork, with a full transcription. Pen to Paper provides a fresh way to think about artists and their creative work and is sure to inspire your next handwritten note or letter.
- GenresArtNonfictionWriting
208 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 16, 2016
True confession: if I wasn’t an artist and designer, I’d probably be an archivist (and a kick-ass one, at that). The recent book Pen to Paper: Artists’ Handwritten Letters from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art resonated with me because it dovetails those two personal loves – art and archiving – so well. Mary Savig, curator of manuscripts at the Archives, selected 55 standout examples of artists’ letters from the museum’s files to be reproduced in these pages. Each letter gets printed on a full page (or more), alongside context-setting descriptions of what happening in each artists’ life written by an art historian.
Once one gets through Savig’s scholarly, too-analytical introduction, these letters offer a lot of enjoyment and surprises. More often than not, they afford glimpses of the casual, candid sides of otherwise dusty names. Several letters are simple, lovely salutations to family and friends, while others delve into weightier matters.
The correspondence in Pen to Paper came from the desks and workspaces of many big names, including Jackson Pollock, Georgia O’Keefe, Joseph Cornell, Mary Cassatt, Isamu Noguchi and Eero Saarninen (gee, but Mr. Saarinen’s writing sure was precise). Arranged alphabetically by artist’s name, the letters range in age from the early 19th century up through 2004, when handwritten letters had been replaced by e-mail. Superficially, it’s a cool book to page through and drink in all the different handwriting and paper styles on display. Many of the mid-20th century letters’ descriptions make reference to the Palmer Method, the classic “cursive” penmanship style commonly taught in U.S. schools. Although the writing is often hard to decipher (on purpose, in the case of The New Yorker‘s Saul Steinberg), the full contents of the letters thankfully get neatly typeset in the back. Which were my favorites? Content-wise, the one that resonated deepest came from earth artist Robert Smithson, who lamented in 1971 (rather presciently) about art being prized for its material, investment value over its life-enriching properties. There’s also an excellent letter from the painter Henry Ossawa Tanner (an artist I’d never heard of) that delves into racial identity in a way that seems strikingly contemporary. (Scrubbles.net review, July 15, 2016)
Once one gets through Savig’s scholarly, too-analytical introduction, these letters offer a lot of enjoyment and surprises. More often than not, they afford glimpses of the casual, candid sides of otherwise dusty names. Several letters are simple, lovely salutations to family and friends, while others delve into weightier matters.
The correspondence in Pen to Paper came from the desks and workspaces of many big names, including Jackson Pollock, Georgia O’Keefe, Joseph Cornell, Mary Cassatt, Isamu Noguchi and Eero Saarninen (gee, but Mr. Saarinen’s writing sure was precise). Arranged alphabetically by artist’s name, the letters range in age from the early 19th century up through 2004, when handwritten letters had been replaced by e-mail. Superficially, it’s a cool book to page through and drink in all the different handwriting and paper styles on display. Many of the mid-20th century letters’ descriptions make reference to the Palmer Method, the classic “cursive” penmanship style commonly taught in U.S. schools. Although the writing is often hard to decipher (on purpose, in the case of The New Yorker‘s Saul Steinberg), the full contents of the letters thankfully get neatly typeset in the back. Which were my favorites? Content-wise, the one that resonated deepest came from earth artist Robert Smithson, who lamented in 1971 (rather presciently) about art being prized for its material, investment value over its life-enriching properties. There’s also an excellent letter from the painter Henry Ossawa Tanner (an artist I’d never heard of) that delves into racial identity in a way that seems strikingly contemporary. (Scrubbles.net review, July 15, 2016)
June 7, 2021
I enjoy books of correspondence. I found this one to be an interesting read, to compare the handwritten letters of artists to their art. My favorite part of the book was reading about Samuel Wagstaff. After a day's work, he had a habit of having a few drinks and writing postcards to his friends and enemies. The idea of "postcards from my enemy" amuses me. First of all, I can't imagine having enemies plural, let alone writing to them on the regular. What would you even write on a postcard to your enemy? I don't know but for some reason the thought makes me smile.
There's a section at the end of the book in which all the handwritten letters are neatly typed out, which is much needed as some of the handwriting is hard to decipher.
There's a section at the end of the book in which all the handwritten letters are neatly typed out, which is much needed as some of the handwriting is hard to decipher.
October 21, 2024
4.8*
Excellent choice of letters and layout. Not so much for the content of the letters but the artistry within.
Many of these artists have such neat and consistent handwriting making it quite legible which is more than I can say for much handwriting nowadays, including my own former award-winning scribble.
Maxfield Parrish’s is a beautiful font on its own.
Saul Steinberg’s contrived script is akin to the ‘72 hit Prisencolinensinainciusol.
Many fine examples, you will not be disappointed.
Excellent choice of letters and layout. Not so much for the content of the letters but the artistry within.
Many of these artists have such neat and consistent handwriting making it quite legible which is more than I can say for much handwriting nowadays, including my own former award-winning scribble.
Maxfield Parrish’s is a beautiful font on its own.
Saul Steinberg’s contrived script is akin to the ‘72 hit Prisencolinensinainciusol.
Many fine examples, you will not be disappointed.
December 22, 2021
A very fine compilation of letters written by artists. Facsimiles of the letters are included with explanations by various curators. It was fun to try to decipher some of the handwriting and to learn a bit about the artist as well.
December 19, 2017
Very interesting and lovely compilation of letters.
December 21, 2021
An interesting examination of handwriting
October 19, 2016
A fun collection of letters written by artists to whomever. I've scoured The Google for handwriting samples -- how people do letters today -- and haven't found anything as great as this book. It's fascinating to see how people write, how fine artists can be either fine writers with pristine penmanship, or, by artistic spirit, writers with unpredictable flair, yet exacting determination. The letters rarely just appear; they're created with intent. You can see it.
Of particular interest to me was the use of medium: pencil or ink, and if ink, whether it was a dipped pen, ballpoint, or italic-nib fountain pen. The dipped penmanship would fade in hue as ink grew thin. The italic nibs had the grand slant and wide to thin letterings - my favorite.
This is all a muse of mine and part of my thrashing against the clack-clack-clack of keyboards.
Of particular interest to me was the use of medium: pencil or ink, and if ink, whether it was a dipped pen, ballpoint, or italic-nib fountain pen. The dipped penmanship would fade in hue as ink grew thin. The italic nibs had the grand slant and wide to thin letterings - my favorite.
This is all a muse of mine and part of my thrashing against the clack-clack-clack of keyboards.
May 14, 2016
This is a pricey book-I'd get it from the library. It's neat to see the handwriting of the artists and also how some doodled in their letters, some sent mail art, some drew cartoons, some were unreadable, some wrote with great flourish and they do include transcriptions in the back.
September 4, 2016
Really great book! I love Elaine DeKooning's hand, and how the words "imagine" and "unawareness" take up almost half a line. Dan Flavin's is stunning. Also loved the Ray Johnson and Oldenburg pieces, Saul Steinberg's "fake calligraphy".
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November 6, 2016LJ review
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews