Jack Hagman’s “Butte II” is a striking sepia-toned lithograph that distills the drama of the American Southwest into bold, geometric silhouettes. Printed in a limited edition of 300 and signed by the artist, this 11×13 inch work reflects Hagman’s celebrated ability to transform canyons, mesas, and desert valleys into poetic studies of light, atmosphere, and sculptural form. A beautiful acquisition for collectors of American modernist landscapes, vintage lithography, and Western-inspired fine art.
In “Butte II,” Hagman creates a hauntingly serene vision of a Southwestern canyon landscape. The towering buttes dominate the foreground, their angular cliffs rendered in a deep, velvety sepia that emphasizes mass and shadow. Narrow openings between the rock forms reveal distant ridges and softly layered desert plains, receding into a pale sky that glows with open possibility.
Hagman’s lithographic technique relies on tonal buildup rather than line, producing surfaces that feel simultaneously solid and atmospheric. Smooth gradations of value allow rock faces to emerge subtly from the white of the paper, while negative space plays the role of desert light. The print captures a sense of stillness and ancient geological time, yet the minimalist treatment makes the scene feel modern and meditative.
At the lower margin, the work is titled “Butte II” in graphite, signed “Hagman” at the lower right, and numbered 197/300 at the lower left. Like “Butte I,” this piece is emblematic of Hagman’s exploration of Western landscapes through abstraction, focusing on form, scale, and emotional resonance rather than topographical specificity. The visual simplicity belies a sophisticated execution—every shape, shadow, and transition is carefully balanced to create a landscape that is both iconic and deeply personal.
Jack (John) Hagman (American, 1937–2015) was a painter, printmaker, actor, theater director, and influential figure in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana arts communities. Born in Chicago on December 22, 1937, he developed his artistic foundation within the region, studying in Chicago-area institutions and participating in the lively mid-century art scene. Throughout his life, he remained rooted in the Midwest, later living and working in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Hagman’s visual art career gained momentum in the late 1960s and 1970s. During this period he created a series of lithographs—some abstract, others landscape-based—that were exhibited and distributed nationally. His association with Merrill Chase Galleries helped introduce his work to collectors across the United States, and he became known for stylized interpretations of landscapes, often reducing forests, plains, and canyons to bold masses and elegant light patterns.
Hagman’s works are held in several important institutional collections, including the Notable: Artist has three works in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Allen Memorial Art Museum at Oberlin College. Some of his lithographs were included in the Harvard Art Museums’ Fogg Museum print rental program, placing him among notable contemporaries in modern printmaking.
His art often occupies a bridge between representational and abstract expression. In landscapes, he simplified geography into tonal blocks and geometric silhouettes, inviting emotional readings rather than documentary interpretation. Works such as “Green Sunlit Valley,” “Three Rules for Survival,” and “A New Valley” show his range—from quietly contemplative vistas to more conceptual and abstract approaches.
Beyond visual art, Hagman was deeply involved in theater. He acted, directed, and designed sets for the Chicago Street Theatre in Valparaiso, where he became a beloved creative force. His artistic life was interdisciplinary: paint, print, light, form, performance, and narrative all intertwined in his broader creative identity.
Hagman passed away on April 3, 2015, but his body of work—especially his landscape lithographs—continues to resonate with collectors who value modernist simplicity, expressive minimalism, and the enduring mystery of American wilderness.
Jack Hagman (1937–2015), Butte II, c.1970s, 11×13 in. lithograph, signed lower right, titled, numbered 197/300. Sepia-toned minimalist Southwestern butte landscape; excellent impression.
Certificate of Value & Authentication
This certificate affirms that the artwork titled “Butte II” is an original lithograph by Jack Hagman (American, 1937–2015).
Medium: Hand-pulled lithograph
Dimensions: approx. 11 × 13 inches
Date: c. 1970s
Edition: 197/300
Signature: Signed “Hagman” in graphite; titled and numbered on lower margin
Authentication is confirmed through examination of the signature, printing technique, paper type, edition notation, and provenance originating from Mitch Morse Gallery. Certified for appraisal, insurance, and resale.
Artist: Jack Hagman (American, 1937–2015)
Original publisher/gallery distribution, USA, c.1970s
Acquired by Mitch Morse Gallery, New York (with additional sourcing across the U.S. and Europe)
Sold through Mitch Morse Gallery to private collectors
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
Jack Hagman’s “Butte II” is a striking sepia-toned lithograph that distills the drama of the American Southwest into bold, geometric silhouettes. Printed in a limited edition of 300 and signed by the artist, this 11×13 inch work reflects Hagman’s celebrated ability to transform canyons, mesas, and desert valleys into poetic studies of light, atmosphere, and sculptural form. A beautiful acquisition for collectors of American modernist landscapes, vintage lithography, and Western-inspired fine art.
In “Butte II,” Hagman creates a hauntingly serene vision of a Southwestern canyon landscape. The towering buttes dominate the foreground, their angular cliffs rendered in a deep, velvety sepia that emphasizes mass and shadow. Narrow openings between the rock forms reveal distant ridges and softly layered desert plains, receding into a pale sky that glows with open possibility.
Hagman’s lithographic technique relies on tonal buildup rather than line, producing surfaces that feel simultaneously solid and atmospheric. Smooth gradations of value allow rock faces to emerge subtly from the white of the paper, while negative space plays the role of desert light. The print captures a sense of stillness and ancient geological time, yet the minimalist treatment makes the scene feel modern and meditative.
At the lower margin, the work is titled “Butte II” in graphite, signed “Hagman” at the lower right, and numbered 197/300 at the lower left. Like “Butte I,” this piece is emblematic of Hagman’s exploration of Western landscapes through abstraction, focusing on form, scale, and emotional resonance rather than topographical specificity. The visual simplicity belies a sophisticated execution—every shape, shadow, and transition is carefully balanced to create a landscape that is both iconic and deeply personal.
Jack (John) Hagman (American, 1937–2015) was a painter, printmaker, actor, theater director, and influential figure in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana arts communities. Born in Chicago on December 22, 1937, he developed his artistic foundation within the region, studying in Chicago-area institutions and participating in the lively mid-century art scene. Throughout his life, he remained rooted in the Midwest, later living and working in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Hagman’s visual art career gained momentum in the late 1960s and 1970s. During this period he created a series of lithographs—some abstract, others landscape-based—that were exhibited and distributed nationally. His association with Merrill Chase Galleries helped introduce his work to collectors across the United States, and he became known for stylized interpretations of landscapes, often reducing forests, plains, and canyons to bold masses and elegant light patterns.
Hagman’s works are held in several important institutional collections, including the Notable: Artist has three works in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Allen Memorial Art Museum at Oberlin College. Some of his lithographs were included in the Harvard Art Museums’ Fogg Museum print rental program, placing him among notable contemporaries in modern printmaking.
His art often occupies a bridge between representational and abstract expression. In landscapes, he simplified geography into tonal blocks and geometric silhouettes, inviting emotional readings rather than documentary interpretation. Works such as “Green Sunlit Valley,” “Three Rules for Survival,” and “A New Valley” show his range—from quietly contemplative vistas to more conceptual and abstract approaches.
Beyond visual art, Hagman was deeply involved in theater. He acted, directed, and designed sets for the Chicago Street Theatre in Valparaiso, where he became a beloved creative force. His artistic life was interdisciplinary: paint, print, light, form, performance, and narrative all intertwined in his broader creative identity.
Hagman passed away on April 3, 2015, but his body of work—especially his landscape lithographs—continues to resonate with collectors who value modernist simplicity, expressive minimalism, and the enduring mystery of American wilderness.
Jack Hagman (1937–2015), Butte II, c.1970s, 11×13 in. lithograph, signed lower right, titled, numbered 197/300. Sepia-toned minimalist Southwestern butte landscape; excellent impression.
Certificate of Value & Authentication
This certificate affirms that the artwork titled “Butte II” is an original lithograph by Jack Hagman (American, 1937–2015).
Medium: Hand-pulled lithograph
Dimensions: approx. 11 × 13 inches
Date: c. 1970s
Edition: 197/300
Signature: Signed “Hagman” in graphite; titled and numbered on lower margin
Authentication is confirmed through examination of the signature, printing technique, paper type, edition notation, and provenance originating from Mitch Morse Gallery. Certified for appraisal, insurance, and resale.
Artist: Jack Hagman (American, 1937–2015)
Original publisher/gallery distribution, USA, c.1970s
Acquired by Mitch Morse Gallery, New York (with additional sourcing across the U.S. and Europe)
Sold through Mitch Morse Gallery to private collectors
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
