Blogs

By Fr. Johann Roten, S.M.

"Today, Benjamin Miller (1877–1964) is recognized as a significant wood block artist who, during the period from 1924 until 1935 has developed an intense range of personal expression through command of the burin, gouge, and burnisher upon the wood grain. He is unique as an American artist in creating works with secular, mystical, and religious subject matter that show an intense passion and primal directness not found in other artists of that period. Had his artistic career not been cut short due to osteoporosis and other illnesses, his fame as an artist would surely have been profound."

These are the words of the foremost expert on the person and the art of Benjamin Miller. Allen W. Bernard published in 2003 a Catalogue raisonné of Miller's work. The Prints of Benjamin Miller: A Catalogue Raisonné with contributions by Kristin L. Spangenberg and Cecile D. Mear is a masterwork of precision and presentation. The introductory essays on Miller's life (Bernard), art (Spangenberg), and printing technique (Mear) lead into full page reproductions of the catalogue of prints followed by samples of Miller's block print designs, silhouette drawings, and holiday cards.

Allen Bernard is not only the expert on Miller's woodcuts, he is also the proverbial aficionado and collector of Miller's prints. He recently donated an important part of his collection to the Smithsonian. Allen Bernard made this exhibit possible in sharing his treasures with us. Some years ago, he had already donated a number of Miller's religious prints to the art collection of the Marian Library.