Carl Ahrens etching — crow perched in gnarled tree branches

Prints

Much of Ahrens' later career was spent living with his family in a small stone farmhouse outside of Galt, Ontario, a place he nicknamed "Big Trees." His health, always poor, worsened, his tubercular hip becoming more debilitating. Perhaps as a way to have work to sell during his illnesses, in the mid 1920's he fashioned a press out of an old laundry mangle and turned some of his attention to printmaking. His then teenaged daughters were often called upon to help ink plates and pull prints.

Featured Art

Landscape With Wild Turkeys

Etching, aquatint and drypoint

25.5 x 20 cm

Signed 1934

Collection of Kim Bullock

This print is # 16 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Trees on the Slope

Etching and aquatint

18 x 14 cm

Signed

Collection of Dan Loya

Photo by Chris Keith

This print is # 22 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Green Wooded Landscape

Monotype with hand coloring

25.5 x 20 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Kim Bullock

This print is # 3 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

The Evening Sun

Etching with surface tone

18 x 14 cm

Signed

Collection of Fred and Deborah Downes

This print is # 11 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Experiment

Etching, aquatint and drypoint in grey

10 x 9 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

This print is # 23 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Beech Trees

Etching, drypoint and aquatint with surface tone

18 x 14 cm

Signed

Private Collection

This print is # 19 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Christmas Card

Etching

6 x 6 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

This print is # 12 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Turkeys

Etching with surface tone

18 x 14 cm

Signed

Private Collection

Photo by Lorna Ferguson

This print is # 13 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Clump of Trees

Drypoint and aquatint with surface tone

9 x 8 cm

Signed

Private Collection

Photo by Lorna Ferguson

This print is # 18 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Dark Wooded Landscape

Etching and aquatint in dark brown

10 x 9 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

This print is # 24 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

The Picnickers

Etching and aquatint with surface tone

25.5 x 20 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Kim Bullock

This print is # 4 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

The Road to Town

Etching with surface tone

30.5 x 25.5 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Chris Keith

This print is # 9 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Small Wooded Landscape

Etching and drypoint in dark grey

9 x 7 cm

Signed

Collection of Dan Loya

This print is # 14 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

The Teepee

Etching and aquatint with surface tone

18 x 14 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Chris Keith

This print is # 6 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

In the Woods

Etching and aquatint with surface tone

10 x 9 cm

Signed before 22 December 1927

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Kim Bullock

This print is # 17 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Landscape With Figure Carrying Sack

Etching and aquatint in brown

12.5 x 10 cm

Signed

Private Collection

Photo by Chris Keith

This print is # 15 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

The Crow

Etching and aquatint with surface tone

12.5 x 11 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Kim Bullock

This print is # 5 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Wooded Landscape with Pool

Drypoint in dark grey with surface tone

15 x 12.5 cm

Signed

Private Collection

This print is # 10 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Wooded Upland Landscape

Monotype in brown on wove paper

18 x 12.5 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Kim Bullock

This print is # 2 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

In the Woods / Tree Roots 1933

Etching and aquatint with surface tone

18 x 14.5 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Kim Bullock

This print is # 20 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Unfinished Landscape (1934)

Etching and Aquatint

11.25 x 7.5 cm

Unsigned

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Kim Bullock

This print is # 25 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Wooded Landscape with Turkeys

Drypoint and aquatint with surface tone

20 x 15 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Kim Bullock

This print is # 21 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Wooded Landscape With Figure by Pond

Drypoint and aquatint with surface tone

14 x 9 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Kim Bullock

This print is # 7 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Wooded Landscape with Pond

Drypoint with surface tone

11.25 x 9 cm

Signed

Collection of Kim Bullock

Photo by Kim Bullock

This print is # 8 in the book Carl Ahrens as Printmaker: A Catalogue Raisonne by Jennifer C. Watson. Published by the Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery in 1984.

Spooky Tree (Proof)

Etching on paper

46 x 13.3 cm

Signed

Collection of rych mills

Photo by Sandu Sindile

This print includes a handwritten notation of "Proof" on the lower left. There is only one known copy.

Enhanced Prints

The Pool

Duo print on paper - hand tinted

25.5 x 20 cm

Signed

Private Collection

This print was exhibited at the Ontario Society of Artists' exhibition in 1923 and was listed as being for sale for $150. It was originally owned by Fred Alexander MacGregor, First Secretary to Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King.