Marshland,” Ruth Leaf, signed etching 6/150, 29.5×22 in., a richly textured, atmospheric wetlands landscape by a major American printmaker.

“Marshland” is an original, hand-pulled etching by acclaimed printmaker Ruth Leaf (1923–2015), numbered 6/150 and pencil-signed. This evocative two-panel composition explores the shifting textures and tonal layers of a wetland environment — warm foliage above and a glowing marsh below, punctuated by delicate silhouetted reeds and floating water plants.

Leaf’s characteristic use of layered color, tonal wiping, and fine etched detail creates a vivid sense of depth and atmosphere. The contrast between the bright, fiery oranges of the treeline and the moody reds, browns, and deep blacks of the marsh evokes both seasonal change and the natural transition from light to shadow.

A strong example of her landscape-based abstractions, “Marshland” reflects Leaf’s lifelong engagement with nature’s rhythms and her mastery of intaglio methods acquired through decades of study and professional practice.

Artwork Description

This print demonstrates Leaf’s technical versatility:

• Layered etching plates build warm gradients of orange, sienna, and umber.

• Varied wiping and plate tone enrich the moody density of the marsh.

• Negative-space silhouettes of lily pads and reeds punctuate the foreground with graphic clarity.

• Two horizontal sections create a visual “diptych” — a motif Leaf used to compare atmospheric layers within a single environment.

The result is a highly expressive, almost meditative landscape that balances representation with abstraction.

Edition 6/150 indicates an early, crisp impression from the plate, desirable to collectors for clarity of line and detail retention.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — RUTH LEAF (1923–2015)

(This biography remains consistent across all your Ruth Leaf entries.)

Ruth Leaf was a pioneering American printmaker and educator whose work helped define intaglio art in the United States during the mid-20th century. Born in Brighton Beach, New York, she developed a strong visual language grounded in expressive line, layered color, and the interplay between abstraction and nature.

Education & Technical Foundation

Leaf received extensive artistic training at:

• The Art Students League, New York

• The New School for Social Research

• Brooklyn College

• American Artists School

• Pratt Graphics Center

• Atelier 17, the influential printmaking studio led by Stanley William Hayter

Her time at Atelier 17 was particularly formative, grounding her in experimental approaches that shaped the rest of her career.

Career, Exhibitions & Recognition

Leaf exhibited for more than five decades, with shows at:

• Library of Congress

• Carnegie Institute

• Brooklyn Museum

• Butler Institute of American Art

• Los Angeles County Museum of Art

• Seattle Art Museum

• DeCordova Museum

• Galerie Art & Gravure, Paris

• Chiba Shimin Gallery, Japan

• Art in Embassies Program

• Viridian Gallery & Roko Gallery, NYC

• Great Neck Library (Retrospective)

Her work appeared in university museums across the U.S. and abroad, affirming her broad influence.

Teaching & Leadership

Leaf was also a deeply respected educator. She founded the Ruth Leaf Studio, taught at art centers and colleges nationwide, and conducted monoprint and etching demonstrations throughout the country. Her guidance shaped many younger printmakers’ careers.

Publications & Scholarship

Leaf authored the classic textbook Etching, Engraving and Other Intaglio Printmaking Techniques (Watson-Guptill, 1976), still widely used today.

She is featured in:

• American Prize Prints of the 20th Century

• Artists at Work

• Dictionary of International Biography

• Who’s Who in American Art

• Who’s Who in the East

• Who’s Who in American Women

Collections

Her work is held at:

• Library of Congress

• Hofstra University

• Butler Museum

• Bowdoin College

• Portland Museum

• Colgate University

• New York University

• United States Information Agency
  … and numerous additional private and institutional collections.

Awards

Her accolades include multiple purchase awards and juried prizes from institutions such as:

• Library of Congress

• Hofstra University

• Nassau Community College

• North Shore Community Arts Center

• Tonner Award from the American Color Print Society

• Audubon Artists Silver Medal

Artist’s Philosophy

Leaf believed abstraction allowed her to express “the essence of things” rather than literal appearances. Her prints, like her landscapes, embody both observation and emotion — inviting viewers to interpret them in their own way.

Ruth Leaf, Marshland. Etching, signed & numbered 6/150. Sheet 29.5 × 22 in.; image 15 × 17.5 in. A richly layered wetland landscape by the influential American printmaker and author of Intaglio Printmaking Techniques.

Artist: Ruth Leaf (1923–2015)
Title: Marshland
Medium: Hand-pulled etching
Edition: 6/150
Image Size: 15 × 17.5 in.
Paper Size: 29.5 × 22 in.
Signature: Pencil-signed
Condition: Excellent
Provenance: Mitch Morse Gallery → Artfind Gallery
Authenticity: Verified original etching consistent with Leaf’s technique, signature, and period.

Provenance Chain

Artist → Ruth Leaf Studio → Mitch Morse Gallery (NYC & international acquisitions) → Artfind Gallery, Washington, D.C.