The Poet's Corner

Books, Color photograph, Flowers, Plants, Still Life, Supports

Dimensions

Image Dimensions: 10.6 x 7.5 cm (print glued within support window)
Support Dimensions: 16.9 x 11.6 cm (cream-colored studio mount )

Associated Blog Posts:

California Pipe Dreamer

This still-life table top study was reproduced as a black & white halftone and used as the frontis plate for the August, 1927 issue of Camera Craft, of which Blumann was editor of at the time. The illustration was set off with some thoughts by Blumann presented in the form of a poem:

THE QUIET CORNER
by Sigismund Blumann

A PIPE, some books, a flower or two,
The picture of one gone before
Who stands without the open door
And shall not die.

When work is through
Some day, some day, when rest is won
And the long, long duty-season done,
I’ll sit me down to taste the best
Of books, tobacco, men and things:
To listen when the spring-bird sings—
Looking in peace toward the West.

Against that day, and I am spared,
My quiet corner stands prepared.

Print details:
mount recto: blue-toned pigment or toned gelatin silver print signed in blue pencil within lower right corner of impression: Sigismund Blumann  F.R.P.S.  (Fellow: Royal Photographic Society)

Since Blumann was elected a Fellow of the R.P.S. in 1933, this print most likely dates to around then or slightly later.

titled in graphite at lower left margin within impression: The Poet’s Corner

slight loss to print surface at upper left margin

Sigismund Blumann: 1872-1956

provenance: author’s grandson