Richard Ziemann's Dedication to Detail

Richard Ziemann's Dedication to Detail

Artists throughout time have painted landscapes to convey the majestic wonder and grandeur of Mother Nature. Most are scenic, sweeping panoramic vistas as seen from a distant vantage point. Richard Claude Ziemann, however, focuses on the small details. His works are extremely intimate, expressing his dedication to capture the wonder of the minutiae in the forest, fields and flowers surrounding him.  
To view one of Ziemann's etchings, one has to look very closely at his work. His etchings and engravings are created using a stipple effect. Upon magnification, one can see that the lines are actually a series of finely executed tiny dots. Tonal effects are created by balancing the density of dots with white space, thus conveying shadows, outlines, depth, texture and mood.   
Ziemann created an outdoor mobile art studio to work in the open air as much as possible. He has said “I feel a sense of exhilaration when viewing the interiors of woods, fields of grass, the forest floor, flowers and foliage. I work directly on etching plates in the landscape experiencing the play of light and daily atmospheric changes along with the form and textural variety of the seasons. Nature with its combination of serenity and wilderness is an inexhaustible visual source for my work."
 
Born in Buffalo, NY, in 1932, Ziemann began creating landscape drawings and etchings in the 1950's during his studies at Yale University. In 1967, he moved to Chester, CT, where he has continued to work for the last 57 years. His most recent exhibition was held at the New Britain Museum of American Art in early 2024 at the age of 91. In the past he has exhibited at the MOMA, Yale University Art Gallery and The Library of Congress, amongst many others. Three of his works are part of the permanent collection of The Smithsonian American Art Museum.
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