Christmas Greetings: Block Prints by Roger Buck

Collection of Vintage 1930's Christmas Cards and related allegorical prints created by Roger A. Buck, 120 pages. 114 Full Color, Black & White and 'Hand-Colorized' Black & White images throughout. The majority of this collection has not been seen by the general public since the mid-1930's. Close-up photography and graphic design techniques used in this book to illustrate the art and precision of wood engraving. In-depth biographical and historical background information into Roger A. Buck’s life and career as a professional artist and printmaker, the work of which has been compared to that of other contemporaries in the Depression-Era, such as well-known wood engravers Lynd Ward and Rockwell Kent. Compiled, written and edited by Brian Corbley, one of the Artists Grandson's.

Born in 1960 in the New York City borough of Manhattan, spending early childhood years growing up in the home of Roger and Marie Buck, located in the New York City borough of the Bronx. Son of Reneé (Buck) and John James Corbley, who also resided in Roger and Marie's home. Siblings include a younger sister, Jeanne Marie, and older brother John Roger. Went to Parochial Grade School(s) and Parochial High School, graduating in 1978. Learned to play piano at the early age of five or six on his mother Renee's Wurlitzer(R) Baby Grand piano. An avid musician and composer, Brian has continued playing keyboard instruments including acoustic and digital pianos, along with vintage Hammond B3(R) tone wheel electric organs and Leslie (R) Rotary Speakers. Much of Mr. Corbley's professional career has centered on woodworking hand & power tools, manual and automated CNC woodworking machinery and industrial cutting tools for wood, acrylic, plastic, solid surface, non-ferrous and other materials. In addition, he was trained to operate a 5-axis CNC (Computer Numeric-Controlled) Carbide Circular Saw Grinder and Profile Knife Grinders. Brian has authored many industrial tool catalogs, attended dozens of Industrial Trade Shows, served as Marketing and Technical Director for a major cutting tool company, was Regional Sales Manager for a well-known CNC Machinery Manufacturer, along with owning several related businesses. For many years, Mr. Corbley has curated, preserved, exhibited, and catalogued the artwork of Roger A. Buck, his maternal grandfather. There were several oil paintings that underwent complete conservation, or restoration, to bring back the original quality and beauty of the artists' work. This process included re-stretching and repairing of the original canvasses, cleaning, inpainting and museum-quality re-framing. The remaining artwork includes oil paintings, drawings, wood sculptures, carving tools and woodcut/wood engraving blocks & prints. There have been several, more recent, Exhibitions conducted or Mr. Bucks' work, and the largest, to date, was held at the Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, between July and October 2010. This was retrospective of the 1934 Montross Gallery Show in New York City, and featured an introduction by David Beronä. Mr. Beronä, author of Wordless Books: The Original Graphic Novels (Abrams, 2008) was, at the time, Dean of the Library and Academic Support Services at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Among several Exhibitions in New Hampshire that included Roger Bucks' work, Mr. Beronä curated shows at The Alliance of Visual Arts (AVA) between September and October 2011, and at the Edwards Art Gallery / Holderness School between September and October 2010, both in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Mr. Corbley's intention is to publish a series of books related to the artwork of Roger A. Buck, and to ultimately publish a complete Catalogue Raisonné estimated to be 600 pages. He is a member of the Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association (CRSA), and 'Christmas Greetings: Block Prints by Roger Buck' is his first book.

Roger A. Buck was born in Paris in 1901. After attending the major Academies, he traveled throughout western and central Europe including Germany, France, Holland, Switzerland and Spain. He resided in Barcelona from 1924 through June of 1929. After creating locally inspired woodcuts during his stay, he participated in the Exposicio D'Art in August 1928 with eight (8) woodcut entries. Another participant at this exhibition was Pau Ruiz Picasso with one entry. The following year, Mr. Buck emigrated to New York City in June 1929, where he lived for the rest of his life. This journey from Barcelona to New York was documented in a short, whimsical 'Novella' in 19 woodcuts entitled 'My Diary - From Spain to Fifth Avenue'. In 1931, a book entitled 'Gray Shadows', compiled by Joseph Lewis French and published by The Century Co., New York, was illustrated with woodcuts by Roger Buck. He continued developing his skill and penchant for wood engraving and, in 1934, published 'Biraka, A Novel in Woodcuts' that contained 68 wood engravings and 10 woodcuts. Two additional 'wordless' or graphic novels included 'Adahom' with 10 large woodcut images, and 'Ich und Duh' with another 39 wood engravings. 1934 also brought two major woodcut Exhibitions that were conducted in New York City - one at the Montross Gallery with 136 entries and the other at The MacDowell Club with 86 entries. There were many favorable press reviews at the time from publications such as The New York Sun, The Art News, the New York Herald Tribune and the New York Post. In addition to his extensive woodcuts, wood engravings and printmaking, Roger completed many very-fine oil paintings including a copy after Rubens Cherubs at Play, an enormous half-size copy after Rembrandts Nightwatch, another study of a Dutch Harbor scene and many others. Roger, along with his father, Adolph, both created wood sculptures and carvings that included a Wild Boar with Wolves, an intricate and detailed wall mirror, wall sconces, nude figures and a bas-relief carving with raised figurines. Mr. Buck was employed by Artcraft Lithographers, in New York City, between the mid and late 1930's. Commercial printing works were produced for artists such as Ludwig Bemelmans, Henry Billings, Ilonka Karasz, Gisella Loeffler, Nura (Nora Woodson Ulreich), Herman Maril, Witold Gordon, along with his own Christmas Card designs. Mr. Buck has holdings in a number of prominent Museums throughout the world including The Municipal Museum of the Hague in Denmark, The Albertina in Vienna, The Kupferstich Kabinett in Dresden, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.