Collection MsC-143 - George Kuthan collection

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

George Kuthan collection

General material designation

  • Graphic materials

Parallel title

Other title information

Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

Level of description

Collection

Reference code

MsC-143

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1959 (Creation)
    Creator
    Kuthan, George

Physical description area

Physical description

66 drawings
2 posters

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

Parallel titles of publisher's series

Other title information of publisher's series

Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series

Numbering within publisher's series

Note on publisher's series

Archival description area

Name of creator

(1916-1966)

Biographical history

George Kuthan was born in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia in 1916. He was a medical student at the University of Prague when the Nazis closed it in 1939. It was at this time that he turned his attention to art, which he studied at Prague’s School of Decorative Arts.

In 1947 he went to Paris on a French government scholarship and attended the graphic studio at the Ecole des Beaux Arts until 1950 when he immigrated to Canada and was introduced to Robert Reid for whom he illustrated several books.

His interest in nature is one of the several aspects of his work. As a graphic artist he illustrated books, Christmas cards and other materials using printing methods such as etching, wood-engraving, and lino-cutting.

He held numerous one-man graphic shows, including at the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. His engravings have appeared in many publications such as Kuthan's Menagerie of Interesting Zoo Animals (1960), Vancouver: Sights and Visions (1962), Aphrodite's Cup (1964), and Scenes from Snowbound (1970).

Custodial history

The records have been in the custody of Simon Fraser University Library, Special Collections and Rare Books since 2010.

Scope and content

This collection consists of pen and brush drawings based on the flora (fungi, wildflowers, trees) and fauna (butterflies, owls, foxes, birds, and insects) of British Columbia. The representations are from different locations in B.C.: Bridge River, Williams Lake, Manning Park, and Vancouver. The records have been arranged in the following five series: Wildflowers of British Columbia: Bridge River (1959); Wildflowers of British Columbia: Williams Lake (1959); Wildflowers of British Columbia: Manning Park (1959); Wildflowers of British Columbia: Vancouver (1959); and Wildflowers of British Columbia: General (1959).

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

The records were acquired from Aquila Books (Calgary, AB) in March 2010.

Arrangement

Arrangement of the items into series provided by the archivist.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    Restrictions on access

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Records in this collection are under copyright. Researchers are required to secure permission from the copyright holders for use of this material, except for that covered by “fair-dealing.”

    Finding aids

    Item list is available.

    Finding aid

    Associated materials

    Additional records may be found in the George Kuthan fonds at the University of British Columbia Library, Rare Books and Special Collections Division.

    Related materials

    Accruals

    No further accruals are expected.

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Standard number

    Standard number

    Access points

    Subject access points

    Place access points

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    Control area

    Description record identifier

    Institution identifier

    Rules or conventions

    Rules for Archival Description

    Status

    Published

    Level of detail

    Full

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Created May 8, 2014 LZ

    Language of description

    • English

    Script of description

      Sources

      Accession area