February 12, 2024

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

To My Dear, c. 1927-1928; Frances Gearhart, American, 1869-1958; May Gearhart, American, 1872-1951; Edna Gearhart, American, 1879-1974; Color woodblock print
To My Dear, c. 1927-1928
Frances Gearhart, American, 1869-1958
May Gearhart, American, 1872-1951
Edna Gearhart, American, 1879-1974
Color woodblock print

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we are spotlighting To My Dear. This beautiful woodblock print, is one of eighteen created by the Gearhart sisters, on view in MAACM’s 5th floor Children’s Gallery. In the late 1920s Frances, May, and Edna Gearhart collaborated to create a children’s book called Let’s Play. While none of the sisters ever married or had children of their own, they were constantly in the presence of children through their teaching. The project consisted of a group of 25 colorful and charming woodblock prints of children at play, many accompanied by a poem written by Edna. All three sisters worked together on this project, and both the poems and the prints were signed “The Gearharts.” Although the book was never published, apparently due to the stock market crash of 1929, the complete set of images was exhibited that year first at the Gearhart Studio, then at the Pasadena Public Library. A mockup of the complete book is now in the collection of the Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton University.

The book
The book "Let's Play by the Gearharts” was produced in a facsimile edition by the Book Club of California in 2009. A copy of the book can be viewed in our library.