Allen Lewis

American, 1873 - 1957

BiographyArthur Lewis was born in Mobile, Alabama in 1873 and studied with Jean Leon Gerome at the Ecole des Beaus Arts, creating his first etchings in 1895. In 1900 his work, along with fellow Americans James Whistler and Joseph Pennell, was accepted in the printmaking section of the Paris Salon. He returned to New York in 1902 and began making a living designing bookplates, ultimately doing over fifty.

Lewis became part of Alfred Steiglitz's circle of modernists and photographers (also doing his book plate) and was the third exhibition of etching done at 291 (after Geiger / McLaughlan and Matisse).

He showed 43 etchings, drypoints and bookplates. He was an Associate Member of the Photo-Secession and one of his photographs was included in the 1912 issue of Camera Work. He also became known for his color woodcuts. In 1915 he won a Gold Medal at the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco.

He taught in New York at the Art Students League between 1924 and 32 with Pennell and from 1932-34 at the New School for Social Research.

He died in 1957.

(http://www.askart.com/artist_bio/Arthur_Allen_Lewis/10032492/Arthur_Allen_Lewis.aspx)

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