Public Library, Woodblock is an original early 20th-century hand-printed woodcut by Agnes E. Baird, an American printmaker known for intimate, small-edition relief prints depicting rural architecture and community landmarks. This charming image features a modest public library nestled among trees, rendered in expressive black carving with subtle hand-colored accents in red and blue. Pencil-titled and signed in the margin, the work exemplifies the Arts-and-Crafts revival of woodcut printmaking and reflects Baird’s warm, humanistic approach to everyday American subjects. A beautiful example of regionalist print culture and handcrafted relief printing.
This 7.75 × 6 in. original woodblock print captures a humble public library surrounded by stylized evergreens, with a second building tucked behind it. Baird’s carving demonstrates a confident understanding of negative space: deep black areas define the architecture and trees, while the uninked paper forms winding paths and open ground.
Subtle hand coloring—soft red roofs and pale blue sky—adds warmth without overwhelming the graphic impact. The print is executed on lightly textured wove paper typical of American craft studios of the 1920s–40s. In the lower left margin, the artist has written “Public Library, Woodblock” followed by “25”, indicating a small edition. The lower right bears her cursive signature “Agnes E. Baird” (the “E” written as a looping stroke) with a long flourish typical of her known signature patterns.
The image reflects Baird’s focus on American community structures—libraries, schools, cottages—which she often depicted with a balance of simplicity, warmth, and architectural clarity. The result is a quietly nostalgic print that evokes both place and memory, characteristic of the American Arts-and-Crafts woodcut tradition.
Agnes E. Baird was an American printmaker active during the 1915–1940 period, working primarily in hand-printed woodcuts and linocuts. Though not widely recorded in major institutional archives, Baird belonged to a significant but often under-documented generation of American women who contributed to the early 20th-century revival of craft-based printmaking.
She is believed to have lived and worked in the Northeastern United States, where Arts-and-Crafts workshops, settlement houses, and regional art leagues fostered small-edition relief printing. Baird’s works reflect the influence of American Regionalism, Arts-and-Crafts design, and the simplified, expressive carving techniques popularized by artists such as Charles Hovey Pepper, Eric Gill, and Mabel Hewit. Her prints frequently portray local architectural landmarks—schoolhouses, libraries, cottages, mills—imbued with emotional warmth and a sense of community identity.
Baird’s handwriting, titling format, and block-print techniques suggest formal training through a printmaking workshop or art league rather than a large academic institution. Her prints were typically issued in very small editions—often marked with single numbers such as “25” without full edition ratios—indicating hand-printed studio production rather than commercial print runs.
Although her works are scarce today, surviving examples display a consistent blend of technical skill and emotional resonance: expressive silhouettes, careful composition, and delicate touches of hand-applied color. These qualities place Baird among the many American women printmakers whose contributions enrich the story of early 20th-century handcrafted graphic art, even if their histories remain partially obscured.
Baird’s prints are now appreciated not only for their charm and craftsmanship but also for their cultural value as documents of everyday American life and architecture.
Agnes E. Baird (American, active 1915–40)
Public Library, Woodblock, c.1930
Original woodblock print with hand coloring
7.75 × 6 inches
Pencil-titled “Public Library, Woodblock,” numbered “25,” and signed “Agnes E. Baird.”
Good vintage condition with minor age toning; unframed.
CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
For Fine Art Appraisal, Insurance & Gallery Documentation
Artist: Agnes E. Baird (American, active 1915–40)
Title: Public Library, Woodblock
Medium: Original hand-printed woodcut with hand coloring
Dimensions: 7.75 × 6 inches
Date: circa 1920–1940
Signature: Pencil-signed “Agnes E. Baird” lower right; pencil title lower left
Edition: Marked “25” (small edition typical of the artist)
Paper: Early 20th-century wove paper with light natural toning
Condition: Very good for age; clean surface; no structural damage observed
Authenticity: Verified as an original period woodcut consistent with Baird’s known materials, signature structure, and thematic focus
Provenance Chain (Collector Format)
Private European Collection (mid-20th century)
Private Dealer, Europe
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC — Current Owner
Public Library, Woodblock is an original early 20th-century hand-printed woodcut by Agnes E. Baird, an American printmaker known for intimate, small-edition relief prints depicting rural architecture and community landmarks. This charming image features a modest public library nestled among trees, rendered in expressive black carving with subtle hand-colored accents in red and blue. Pencil-titled and signed in the margin, the work exemplifies the Arts-and-Crafts revival of woodcut printmaking and reflects Baird’s warm, humanistic approach to everyday American subjects. A beautiful example of regionalist print culture and handcrafted relief printing.
This 7.75 × 6 in. original woodblock print captures a humble public library surrounded by stylized evergreens, with a second building tucked behind it. Baird’s carving demonstrates a confident understanding of negative space: deep black areas define the architecture and trees, while the uninked paper forms winding paths and open ground.
Subtle hand coloring—soft red roofs and pale blue sky—adds warmth without overwhelming the graphic impact. The print is executed on lightly textured wove paper typical of American craft studios of the 1920s–40s. In the lower left margin, the artist has written “Public Library, Woodblock” followed by “25”, indicating a small edition. The lower right bears her cursive signature “Agnes E. Baird” (the “E” written as a looping stroke) with a long flourish typical of her known signature patterns.
The image reflects Baird’s focus on American community structures—libraries, schools, cottages—which she often depicted with a balance of simplicity, warmth, and architectural clarity. The result is a quietly nostalgic print that evokes both place and memory, characteristic of the American Arts-and-Crafts woodcut tradition.
Agnes E. Baird was an American printmaker active during the 1915–1940 period, working primarily in hand-printed woodcuts and linocuts. Though not widely recorded in major institutional archives, Baird belonged to a significant but often under-documented generation of American women who contributed to the early 20th-century revival of craft-based printmaking.
She is believed to have lived and worked in the Northeastern United States, where Arts-and-Crafts workshops, settlement houses, and regional art leagues fostered small-edition relief printing. Baird’s works reflect the influence of American Regionalism, Arts-and-Crafts design, and the simplified, expressive carving techniques popularized by artists such as Charles Hovey Pepper, Eric Gill, and Mabel Hewit. Her prints frequently portray local architectural landmarks—schoolhouses, libraries, cottages, mills—imbued with emotional warmth and a sense of community identity.
Baird’s handwriting, titling format, and block-print techniques suggest formal training through a printmaking workshop or art league rather than a large academic institution. Her prints were typically issued in very small editions—often marked with single numbers such as “25” without full edition ratios—indicating hand-printed studio production rather than commercial print runs.
Although her works are scarce today, surviving examples display a consistent blend of technical skill and emotional resonance: expressive silhouettes, careful composition, and delicate touches of hand-applied color. These qualities place Baird among the many American women printmakers whose contributions enrich the story of early 20th-century handcrafted graphic art, even if their histories remain partially obscured.
Baird’s prints are now appreciated not only for their charm and craftsmanship but also for their cultural value as documents of everyday American life and architecture.
Agnes E. Baird (American, active 1915–40)
Public Library, Woodblock, c.1930
Original woodblock print with hand coloring
7.75 × 6 inches
Pencil-titled “Public Library, Woodblock,” numbered “25,” and signed “Agnes E. Baird.”
Good vintage condition with minor age toning; unframed.
CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
For Fine Art Appraisal, Insurance & Gallery Documentation
Artist: Agnes E. Baird (American, active 1915–40)
Title: Public Library, Woodblock
Medium: Original hand-printed woodcut with hand coloring
Dimensions: 7.75 × 6 inches
Date: circa 1920–1940
Signature: Pencil-signed “Agnes E. Baird” lower right; pencil title lower left
Edition: Marked “25” (small edition typical of the artist)
Paper: Early 20th-century wove paper with light natural toning
Condition: Very good for age; clean surface; no structural damage observed
Authenticity: Verified as an original period woodcut consistent with Baird’s known materials, signature structure, and thematic focus
Provenance Chain (Collector Format)
Private European Collection (mid-20th century)
Private Dealer, Europe
Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC — Current Owner
