The Art of Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett (1899-1971) was a nationally known printmaker, painter, and illustrator, born in Ireland but raised in Washington State. He later divided his time between New York City and Seattle. A leading children’s book author and illustrator, he received national recognition for his woodblock prints and engravings. He was part of the inner circle of leading Northwest artists including Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, Kenneth Callahan, and Guy Anderson. In New York he became close to a group of artists and scholars that included the Abstract Expressionist Theodoros Stamos, etcher Thomas Handforth, and the scholar Edmond Tolk.

Among the many children’s books he illustrated are the Paul Bunyon stories, Treasure Island, and Betty MacDonald’s The Egg and I and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. David Martin places Bennett’s work in the context of major American printmakers and illustrators and the changes in book production inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement.