Discover our hand framed Robert Frederick Blum art prints and posters. All prints are lovingly framed to order by our experts right here in the UK workshop.
Born in Cincinnati, Blum commenced his artistic journey under the tutelage of Frank Duveneck, delving into the realm of drawing at a tender age. It was at sixteen when the allure of Japanese art and crafts captivated him, a fascination that persisted throughout his lifetime. Mariano Fortuny, the esteemed Spanish genre painter, left an indelible mark on Blum's artistic ethos, his vibrant hues and dynamic brushstrokes igniting a profound admiration within him.
Dubbed "Blumtuny" among his peers, Blum embarked on a transformative sojourn to Venice alongside his friend William Merritt Chase in 1879. In the labyrinthine alleys of Venice, he crossed paths with James McNeill Whistler, whose mentorship in Japanese design and advocacy for pastel as a medium profoundly influenced Blum's oeuvre.
Pastels emerged as a quintessential medium, aligning seamlessly with Blum's evocative technique. His foray into Venice's less frequented corners birthed masterpieces like "Venetian Lace Makers" (1887), a canvas pulsating with raw energy and narrative depth. Japan beckoned him professionally later in life, marking an apex in his artistic journey before succumbing to pneumonia at the age of forty-six.
