On the Terrace, from "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" by Thornton Wilder America, 20th century

On the Terrace, from "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" by Thornton Wilder

1929

Clare Leighton

(American, 1899–1989)

America, 20th century

wood engraving

Image: 11.5 x 8.3 cm (4 1/2 x 3 1/4 in.); Sheet: 16 x 13.5 cm (6 5/16 x 5 5/16 in.)

Gift of Mrs. Malcolm L. McBride 1956.233.13

Courtesy of the Estate of Clare Leighton

Catalogue raisonné: Hardie (P.C.Q.) XXII.159.145

Location: not on view

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Description

The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927) by Thornton Wilder tells the story of Brother Juniper, who, after witnessing the collapse of a bridge, tries to find the meaning behind the tragedy by investigating the lives of the people who died there. Clare Leighton made 16 wood engravings for a 1929 edition of the book. Most of them are character studies that combine expression, dress, and setting to communicate the character’s thoughts and feelings. They also demonstrate the development of Leighton’s distinctive style in the medium, including thick outlines, high contrasts, and modeling using white lines against the black background created by the uncut woodblock.