The Three Kings by Norman Gorbaty, Amer., (1932-2020)

The Three Kings, Etching, circa. 1942, Ed. stated as 20, 8 x 9-7/8, full margins, but with tape stains left and right edge, glue stains to margins verso just visible recto but away from subject, a small hole to margin upper right away from image with some skinning verso, signed, titled and noted Artist's Proof in pencil, on cream wove watermarked RIVES paper. An impression of this early print by Gorbaty is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. A distinguished artist who worked with Joseph Albers and Gabor Peterdi at Yale, Norman Gorbaty enjoyed early success in the 1950's with his prints, then developed a successful graphic design career with high profile advertising campaigns and children's book illustrations. From 2003 on he  returned to painting and carving in wood, stone and ivory full time, and his work was the subject of a recent career retrospective at the Bellerine Museum, Fairfield University in CT. Prints by Gorbaty are included in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery and Yale, and have been exhibited at MOMA, The Brooklyn Museum, Wesleyan, Minneapolis School of Art, Cooper Union, and many others. Gorbaty's essay "Printmaking with a Spoon" was included by Gabor Peterdi in his book "Printmaking Methods Old and New". Norman Gorbaty does not seem to have fulfilled  formal editions of most of his prints, so most likely exist in only a few impressions. A devastating 2019 fire at his home studio destroyed much of his artwork as well as his home, hence his prints are scarce. Gabor Peterdi thought so highly of Gorbaty's prints he made  him his assistant at Yale's first intensive summer art program in Norfolk, CT. We are happy to have met Mr. Gorbaty and arranged to present this rare group of mid-century prints, mostly unseen since the 1950's. Though the margins may bear flaws, the prints themselves remain fine and are outstanding in their exuberant invention and technical mastery.