by Mauricio Lasansky
Mauricio Lasansky: da Vinci 1987 from LasanskyArt
Visiting wood s lot a couple of days ago, two powerful and familiar prints caught my eye immediately for I recognized them as the work of Mauricio Lasansky, even before seeing the name below each. Then I see that he has died this week at the remarkable age of 97 after an amazing life as an artist printmaker.
Lasansky was born in Argentina, and later emigrated to the USA where eventually, in 1945, he became professor (later emeritus) of art and art history at the University of Iowa, where he established a highly respected program in printmaking. He was a very highly skilled graphic artist who used numerous techniques and plates to create his huge prints.
As a printmaker, I’ve been a long time admirer of Lasansky’s work and certainly was influenced by his excellent drawing and graphic style. Some decades ago now, I enjoyed a fantastic monograph about him borrowed from a library; I’ve forgotten the name and must now look for it again. I still remember how very searing, disturbing, and haunting his work is as it dealt with so much of the worst of human conditions. Sadly, I’ve never seen any of his work in person.
Here are two obituaries: a family one in his hometown paper in Iowa and a professional one in the New York Times. To learn more about his art and achievements and see a catalogue of his work, visit his extensive website.
I have mentioned his name in two posts long ago, one regarding Original Prints vs. Reproductions, and one linking to PrintFreak, who wrote about him. I don’t know why I have not written more about this powerful artist before, perhaps because words are not enough.
April 11, 2012 in Other artists, Printmaking by Marja-Leena
Thank you Marja-Leena for this reminder and for the links. His work was incredibly powerful, and like you I regret not having seen any of it other than in reproduction.
Olga, I think it would be wonderful if a traveling exhibition of his work were organized sometime, which would come to London as well as Vancouver amongst other cities.
Oh dear, it looks as though my comment from last evening didn’t make it through. His work is truly incredible and so complex I can hardly begin to imagine how some of them were done. After I read the obituaries I did spend more than half an hour looking at the galleries on his web page. Now I have them bookmarked too. I hope one day you do get to visit one of the museums where the originals hang. Wish I could go with you so you could explain the process.
Susan, I’m sorry your comment got lost, again! I must admit I’m frustrated with this new setup, sigh. I’m glad you’ve studied Lasansky’s work – some of it can be quite disturbing though so wonderfully done. I too wish we could see it together, and I’d be happy to try explaining some of the techniques.
Marja-Leena,
Leo just leaving for his work room. I told him the name, and where he’s been, but no, he didn’t know him. Leo might’ve been too long away from there.
And as he lived so old, I think Leo’s teacher’s were students of German war refugees in America.
You gave a lot to study for the week end!
These are marvelous prints. I just spent a long time looking at the web-site. I, too, would love to see the real thing. Thanks for this.
I don’t know if I could bear seeing his work. In college I studied the Nazi period and as with him this infected my imagination.
How to understand the cruelty? That was his lifelong struggle as an artist, obviously.
Rooted around in his work and enjoyed it very much. It’s rather sad that we often get to know an artist or writer after a death. Lovely that he lived to be such a great age and continued to work.
Ripsa, it seems that Lasansky is best known to printmakers, though he did a huge series of drawings too. I’m sure Leo will like the work, we are fortunate that his web site is so extensive and you can also see a lot on several msueum sites as well. Have a good weekend.
Anne, I’m glad you enjoyed his work.
Hattie, not all his work deals with that period so you might find some work that you can enjoy, such as his portraits like the one I selected, above.
Marly, how great that you enjoyed it too, and how true that many artists are not known until their death, if even then, though I think Lasansky was well known. A long and productive life – we can all hope for the same!
Thank you Marja-Leena for posting about Mauricio Lasansky. His work was unknown to me until today, but a first trawl of the website devoted to him has left me shaken AND stirred!
Clive, yes, Lasansky’s work certainly stirs and shakes, it is not pretty and bland at all, is it? In my books, his work is “art that excites”, something I wrote about in a couple of posts quite some time ago, here and here.
Oh, yes, he did seem known–though I was disgusted with myself for not having heard of him at all.
Marly, don’t be hard on yourself – it’s impossible to know every artist out there. Sometimes it’s just luck. In my case, I think I first found him in some printmaking “text books”, then stumbled on a book about him in the university library.
Marja-Leena, thank you — I didn’t know his work at all before your post!
Beth, I’m glad to have been able to introduce him to you. Hope you find his work inspiring.
Thank you for this mention. I didn’t know anything about him either but will now look up his site since I love the print you posted.