Gordon Hartshorne

nature interpreted

With a lifelong interest in art, nature and design, Gordon Hartshorne explored woodcut printing for nearly 30 years. He served in the U.S. Navy, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois – Champaign, and spent a summer at the Ox-Bow School of Art.

In the early 1950’s, Rand McNally and Company brought him on as an art director for book, map and atlas design. After 36 years at Rand McNally, Gordon retired to dedicate himself to his art. He became an expert in the Japanese tradition of woodcut printing – hand pressing rice paper over ink-covered hand carved wood plates – that resulted in vibrant, textured, graphic images.

Gordon Hartshorne, who passed away in 2004 at the age of 77, left behind a legacy of his art for the world to appreciate. He made woodcut prints and paintings inspired by the earth’s beauty and memorable landscapes of the North Woods and Gulf Coast. The simplicity of nature, depth, and earth hues were fused together to produce his original works of art.