Boreal Forest Woodblock Print

Henry Eric Bergman, MSA, CSGA, CSPWC (1893-1958) was born in Dresden Germany. He began his study of art at the age of fourteen, studying the art of wood engraving at a commercial studio. Six years later, he emigrated to Toronto, where he obtained a job with one of Canada’s foremost commercial graphic arts companies, Brigdens, as a professional engraver. He transferred to their Winnipeg office in 1914, to work alongside the likes of Charles Comfort and the great Walter J. Phillips, who actively encouraged the talented young artist. One of their main projects was producing all the engraved product images for the western edition of the Eaton’s mail order catalogue.

Bergman loved the outdoors, though, and took every available opportunity to explore prospective subjects throughout Rural Manitoba and the Northwestern Ontario. Sadly, he does not identify the location of this woodcut, but I am pretty confident that Evening is a representation of our beloved Lake of the Woods in Sunset Country! Bergman was famous for his meticulous attention to detail, and you can see that here in the rough bark and tangled, cone-spangled branches of the Jackpine.

Henry Eric Bergman. Evening. No. 5 of 100 woodblock prints. Winnipeg, 1928. Rematted using acid-free products, in original frame. Signed and numbered in the artist’s hand, with his signature initials incorporated into the design. $2000.00