Mabel Dwight

by Susan Barnes Robinson

Characterized as a keen observer of the comedie humaine, Mabel Dwight (1875-1955) emerged as a lithographer at the age of fifty-two and became one of the most noted American printmakers of the 1920s and 1930s. Although best known for her benignly satirical depictions of New York City life, she also produced portraits, evocative mood pieces, architectural scenes, and deeply felt responses to the urgent political and social concerns of the day: the Depression, the rise of fascism, and the imminence of war. Assembling for the first time all 111 of Dwight's editioned lithographs, this book traces the changes in popular taste and personal vision that enabled her work to fill a growing demand for realistic art based on the experiences of ordinary Americans. Bringing together Dwight's descriptions of the genesis of many of her works, her essays on lithography and satire, and complete documentation of each print, this comprehensive study illuminates the career of an original voice in printmaki