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The Three Wise Men – Bertha Lum (1921)
This magnificent original color woodcut with hand coloring is one of the most iconic creations by the celebrated American artist Bertha Boynton Lum (1869–1954). Lum was internationally renowned for fusing traditional Japanese printmaking (ukiyo-e) techniques with Western mystical themes.
Visual Details & Composition: The scene presents a deeply spiritual atmosphere where three figures advance mounted atop their camels. Their gazes are intently and inquisitively fixed on a distant point along the left horizon. Above them, a deep indigo night sky unfolds in a subtle, beautiful gradient glowing with stars. Near the ground in the foreground, an ethereal, ribbon-like form reminiscent of glowing embers and swirling smoke floats mystically through the air, enveloping the riders’ path and serving as an otherworldly guide for their legendary journey.
History & Edition: While the conceptual design and copyright for this artwork were established around 1918, this specific impression strictly belongs to the celebrated edition printed and distributed in 1921.
Signature & Authenticity: The piece retains its full historical and collectible value, featuring Bertha Lum’s authentic pencil signature and the ‘1921’ date hand-written along the lower edge of the print. It is part of a verified limited edition of at least 142 impressions, though some later unnumbered variants are known to exist.
