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Scarce Alfred Heber Hutty (Charleston, South Carolina, 1877-1954) bust-length portrait etching and drypoint entitled “A Gullah” that depicts an African American woman, having short, braided hair and a hoop earring, in three-quarter profile view. From the intended edition of 75. Signed “Alfred Hutty” in pencil along with snail cypher, lower right. Titled and inscribed “Ed. 75” and “Cat. number 76” lower left. With old inventory numbers in pencil to lower right margin. Unframed. Sheet: 15 3/8 in. H x 12 in. W. Sight: 12 3/4 in. H x 10 in. W. Mat: 17 7/8 in. H x 15 3/16 in. W. Note: This rare etching is known in only one other impression. Brunk Auctions sold a related graphite drawing in 2020. Biographical Note: “One of the principal artists of the Charleston Renaissance, Alfred Heber Hutty was a native of Grand Haven, Michigan. He spent most of his youth in Kansas City, He was employed as a glazier and that led to his pursuit of stained-glass design, initially in Kansas City, later in St. Louis, and finally In New York City, where he was employed by the Tiffany Studios. He studied with Birge Harrison at the Art Students League and at the nascent art colony in Woodstock, New York, where he was among the first artists to settle full time…He began dividing his time seasonally between homes and studios in Woodstock and Charleston and soon became a fixture in Charleston’s art circles. From 1920 to 1924 he was the director of the Carolina Art Association (now the Gibbes Museum of Art), and in 1921 he was a founding member of the Charleston Etchers’ Club. His principal subject, the local scene, naturally led to an interest in historic preservation. The Society for the Preservation of Old Dwellings, among other groups, provided opportunities for artists–among them, Hutty, Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, and Elizabeth O’Neill Verner–to create work that was deeply rooted in Charleston’s past.” (Source: Morris Museum of Art, “Alfred Hutty: Painter, Printmaker, Preservationist”)
PROVENANCE: Private Southern collection.
CONDITION: Sight area in overall good condition, with rich drypoint. With minor foxing and soiling primarily to margins plus 1/16″ L speck to upper arm. Two dog-ear creases to lower left corner, largest 1 3/4″ L. Tears with losses to upper corners and staining from old tape along upper edge, under mat.
