188: JACKSON LEE NESBITT (1913-2008) PENCIL SIGNED ETCHING

Jackson Lee Nesbitt (Missouri, 1913-2008)
Wire Mill (1938)
The drypoint etching numbered 20 from an edition of only 60 prints is signed by the artist in pencil below the image lower left.

Nesbitt described the scene as follows: ''This was the noisiest place I've ever been in all my life. You had to wear earplugs in there. The company tried to have me remove some of them, men in this piece so that their operation would look more efficient, but they finally agreed to let it stand as drawn. in Kansas City, steel is gradually getting thinner and longer. The big coils are loaded on arms, so the steel can be uncoiled as it goes through successive dies, which further reduce the diameter of the wire. The end result is the production of fence wire, bailing wire, nails, and bolts.''

Of the impetus for his well-known and highly sought after series of prints documenting the industrial processes at Sheffield Steel Corporation in Kansas City, Nesbitt recalled: 'The company had called the Kansas City Art Institute to inquire about an etcher to create some images of their operations. John De Martelly and I were both recommended; but De Martelly, not wanting to spend any time on site at Sheffield, encouraged me to do it. For all the Sheffield pieces, I had to submit a finished pencil drawing to the company for approval prior to creating the etching. The original etchings were given as Christmas remembrances to VIPs both in and outside of the company and were offered for sale to the employees.'


Turns out Nesbitt spent a great deal of time on site at Sheffield detailing their massive works in more than sixteen different complex images completed during the 1930 - and six more during the late 40s and early 50s.
Image measures 9 x 11.75 with a framed size of 18 x 20.5 inches.
Good condition, noting a 2-inch tear lower right in the margin lower right. Loss from the face of the sheet upper right along the top edge. Clean condition without stain, even good margins, not laid down.
$600 - $800