Lot 136

Artist Louis Eilshemius - "American Rousseau" - Archive With Great Content, 12pp, 10 Sigs

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Artist Louis Eilshemius - "American Rousseau" - Archive With Great Content, 12pp, 10 Sigs

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,000

Starting Bid: $500

(0 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Louis Eilshemius
[New York, NY], ca. 1932-1933
Artist Louis Eilshemius - "American Rousseau" - Archive With Great Content, 12pp, 10 Sigs
Archive

An archive comprised of nine autograph letters signed, one autograph manuscript signed, and one autograph manuscript in the hand of American modern artist Louis Eilshemius (1864-1941), featuring a total of ten signatures. Only a few pieces are dated, suggesting a short time period of ca. 1932-1933. [New York, New York.] Inscribed in ink and pencil on watermarked stationery with "Mahatma / Dr. Louis M. Eilshemius, M.A. etc. / Mightiest Mind and Wonder of the Worlds. / Supreme Parnassian and Grand Transcendant [sic] Eagle of Art…" letterhead. Variously signed as: "Louis Eilshemius"; "Louis M. Eilshemius"; "LM Eilshemius"; "L.M.E."; "Ludovico Eilshemius"; "The one and only Eilshemius"; and "You no _ huh." Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, minor wrinkles, even toning, isolated contemporaneous ink smears and blots, and closed tears. Else near fine and intensely graphic! Eilshemius's handwriting is unique, and his use of paraphs, margin squiggles, punctuation, underlines, and variety of signatures make the archive very interesting. 8.5" x 11". 11 pieces, and 12pp total.

Eilshemius directed these letters, poems, "billets doux," and lists to the attention of Marie Gallagher, a reporter from "The Daily Mirror" who had befriended the artist in the early 1930s and written articles about him. Subjects discussed in the correspondence include the artist's poor health, his boredom and loneliness, his recollections of past events, his artwork, and recent publicity. Eilshemius was obsessed with publicity and frequently catalogs articles and fan mail. Eilshemius had adopted the soubriquet "Mahatma" and shamelessly promoted himself through the self-financed publication of pamphlets and books.

The archive contains rich artistic content in the form of multiple references to Eilshemius's paintings and drawings, which will be further elaborated below. The correspondence is from a period when Eilshemius's artwork was enjoying a renaissance, more than a decade after Eilshemius had stopped painting in the early 1920s. Around July 1931, however, Eilshemius was "rediscovered," leading to exhibitions, robust retail sales, and collections acquisition by the likes of the Metropolitan Museum of Art among others.

Highlights include:

- Letter #1, undated, 2pp. Eilshemius recounts having made "sketches of Hudson R" and trips to his "Studio." He boasts about meeting famous people like Lillian Russell, Sarah Berhardt, Joyce Wallace, and Elsie James and traveling around New York City during his youth.

- Letter #5, "Tuesday," 1p. Eilshemius shares information about being an adolescent artist: "I discovered an old birthday green booklet in which I wrote at 14 years of age. In it were a few drawings - very swell for a laddie at Dresden… My portrait is fine."

- Letter #7, undated, 1p. Eilshemius mentions the sale of one of his early oils on canvas entitled "Delaware Water Gap" (1886). He writes: "I had a pt. bought by the Metropolitan Museum and 4 stories in 4 papers last week. I'll have a show of 7 ptgs. soon."

- Letter #8, undated, 1p. Eilshemius promises Gallagher that he will "present to you one of my $5000 ptgs, sure (35 x 50").

- Autograph manuscript list, undated, 1p. A list entitled "Unsold Oils (cont.[)]" and including artwork titles, brief descriptions, dates, and sometimes prices, such as: "King of Rumania on horseback (large) 1917… Nymphs in woodland gorges with waterfalls resplendent in background of these (small and large) 1500."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: Archive

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000