The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 15, 2026

A vertically oriented woodblock print features a central corn plant with rich yellow, curving leaves and a branching tassel. Enclosed by a square black frame with a dotted yellow border, the plant stands against a dark background filled with white stippled shapes. Below, "HOPI CORN" is printed on the lower left, while a handwritten signature and an orange hand symbol appear to the right. The entire composition is centered on cream-colored paper.

Hopi Corn

1927

Gustave Baumann

(American, born Germany, 1881–1971)
America
woodblock print
Image: 20.3 x 21 cm (8 x 8 1/4 in.); Sheet: 43.2 x 34.3 cm (17 x 13 1/2 in.)
Gift from Gwen Fate and Kevin Henegar 2023.31
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Gustave Baumann’s color woodcut technique required the cutting of one block per color, which were then printed successively on a sheet of paper.

Description

Printmaker Gustave Baumann’s extensive engagement with the American Southwest began in 1918 when he settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Corn played a key role in the culture of the southwest, particularly that of the Pueblo peoples. Baumann depicted several of the festivals surrounding the famous Corn Dance at the Santa Clara Pueblo. This simple rendering made with several layered colors presents the plant with a certain reverence for its place in the agrarian economy.
  • {{cite web|title=Hopi Corn|url=false|author=Gustave Baumann|year=1927|access-date=15 May 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2023.31