Availability: 1 in stock
Spirit of Fire (Pele)
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painting: 28 3/4 x 17 1/2 in., 73 x 44.5 cm (frame: 40 1/2 x 25 in., 103 x 63.5 cm) |
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A Hawaii-related Volcano scene of the Fire Goddess, Pele surrounded by lava like Nymphs in a swirling dance.
Dated 1921, this piece was done by the well known artist Bertha Lum. A very rare Hawaii scene, done when she was traveling to Asia and stopped in Hawaii.
Although not from Hawaii, the British artist depicts the fire goddess, Pele attended by Nymphs, smiling in a dance with rising steam. It is possible that she saw the volcano and heard the story of Pele. She is known for her Art Nouveau style of fantastical figures. There is a print entitled spirit of the volcano done in 1933, but it has a very different look to it. This may have been an inspiration for the later work. This has much more detail and personalization of the figure. An excellent painting and rare work by the artist.
About Bertha Lum
Bertha Boynton Lum (1869–1954) was an American artist born in Tipton, Iowa. She studied at both the Art Institute of Chicago and the School of Illustration, where she explored a variety of mediums, including design, glass, drawing, and printmaking. Lum is renowned for helping popularize Japanese and Chinese woodblock printing beyond Asia. While in Japan, she discovered woodblock printing and developed a deep passion for the art form, learning from Igami Bonkutsu and printer Nishimura Kamakichi. Was one of a handful of artists under the famous woodblock print publisher Shozaburo Watanabe, who developed the Shin Hanga movement. Lum was one of the first of these artists in this style.
English 
Japanese