Henry Eric Bergman (1893–1958), born Heinrich Erich Bergmann, was a Canadian artist born in Dresden, Germany. Bergman’s training was as a commercial wood engraver illustrating catalogs and business prospectuses. He later took up fine art working in pencil, watercolour, oil paint, colour wood block printing but he is best known for his fine black and white wood engravings. Bergman was close friends with Harold R. Foster who created the comic strip Prince Valiant, and appeared on the Hal Foster episode of This Is Your Life in 1954.

Chronology

• November 10, 1893 born in Dresden, Germany
• 1911 obtained a Diploma of Merit from the Art and Trade School of Dresden, after three years of study.[1]
• 1913 he came to Canada [2]
• 1914 joined Brigdens Limited in Winnipeg, Manitoba where he spent many years as a commercial wood engraver for the Eaton's catalogue.[3]
• 1922 – he was inspired by Fred Brigden and Walter J. Phillips to take up fine arts[4]
• 1926 - first wood engraving[5]
• 1927 and 1930 His work was reproduced in special editions of The Studio
• 1933 + 1936 exhibited in the Warsaw Exhibition [6]
• February 9, 1958 died Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• Also a charter member of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, charter member and past president of the Society of Canadian Painter-Etchers and Engravers (founded in 1916), and a member of the Canadian Handicrafts Guild.

Bibliography

• Dillow, Nancy E. Transformation of Vision: The Works of H. Eric Bergman 1983 Winnipeg Art Gallery
• City artist, H. E. Bergman dies at 64, Winnipeg Free Press, 11 February 1958, page 32.
• Bergman, Eric. The Studio, November 1936 p. 322 - 325
• Kane, Brian M (2001), Hal Foster: Prince of Illustrators, Vanguard Productions, ISBN 1-887591-25-7. IPPY Award-winning biography.
• Roy, James A. The Heart is Highland. 1947 McClelland & Stewart Ltd., Toronto with woodcut illustrations by H. Eric Bergman.

See also

• List of German Canadians

References

External links

• Bergman prints in the National Gallery of Canada collection
• www.artistarchive.com A catalogue of over 120 prints, many with images.