Description
JimFlora.com has released a pair of limited-edition, archival-quality fine art prints derived from a series of 1954 hand-tinted relief prints of a work entitled Manhattan. The two works differ in the artist’s hand-tinting, one having stronger reds, the other stronger blues. This page features the red variant.
The cityscape depicts New York in its 1950s glory, including such gotham landmarks as the Empire State Building, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the UN, Madison Square Garden, the Statue of Liberty, famous theaters and legendary musical bistros, Washington Square arch, a NY Public Library lion, subways, taxis, horse-drawn carriages and tourists.
Produced by Flora archivist Barbara Economon, the prints have been meticulously replicated from an original hand-colored print using state-of-the-art digital technology.
Only twenty-five (25) prints of Manhattan (Red) were produced for this edition. Each print is numbered in the lower right corner beneath the image and authenticated on the reverse with the stamped seal of Jim Flora Art LLC (a Flora family enterprise). We have sold all edition prints except numbers 3/25 and 5/25, which are on consignment and not available thru JimFlora.com. (The blue variant is still available.)
A high-resolution scan was made of the original art, a hand-colored relief print on paper. All aspects of the original artwork (with Flora’s titling in the lower left and signature in the lower right) have been retained, including minor aging artifacts which in no way detract from the overall impression.
The image area is 11-3/4″ high x 14-3/16″ wide, including the signature/title field — slightly larger than the original work — centered on a sheet 13″ high x 19″ wide. The printed image is surrounded by a white border that is a 1/2″ at the top and bottom of the sheet and 2-3/8″ on the left and right sides. The unframed prints are on heavyweight (310g) mould-made William Turner stock, a natural white, 100% rag paper with a fine toothy surface manufactured by Hahnemühle, who are renowned for premium-grade archival papers. The edition was produced using Epson UltraChrome K3 Pigment Ink Technology, resulting in brilliant, velvety color and offering excellent longevity and durability.
The print will ship flat, securely packaged and guaranteed against bending or dents. Print includes a detailed, custom-printed one-sheet with instructions for the proper care of this fine art reproduction.
The original Manhattan woodcut was carved by Flora around 1954. The original edition was not numbered, and we do not know how many prints were struck from the block. A dozen vintage hand-colored prints remain in the Flora collection. These are not presently being offered for sale. The original block cannot be located; consequently there will be no new relief prints struck of this work. The “Red” and “Blue” variants are the only two Manhattan prints that will be offered as limited edition works.
Due to the fine art print’s higher-resolution process, as well as superior paper, inks, and quality control, the colors in the print appear brighter, crisper, and more vibrant than the online image. Online color appearance may vary slightly depending on your monitor settings.
