Levon West

Levon West was born the son of a Congregational Minister who emigrated from Armenia. He later adopted the pseudonym Ivan Dmitri for his work as a color photographer. For all other works of art he used his real name Levon West. He became well-known for an etching of the Spirit of St. Louis, Charles Lindbergh’s plane. West gained international fame for his portrayals in color photography, etchings and watercolors.

West was the recipient of a scholarship to the University of Minnesota where, although he was interested in art, he studied business administration. He became an etcher, painter, photographer, writer, and teacher.

West’s four works submitted in 1932 were all etchings depicting scenes of hunting and the harsh American North. The drypoint etching The White North was created in 1931 in the format 21 x 35 cm with an edition of 100. Blizzard Coming shows a winter storm (21.9 x 37.5 cm), also with an edition of 100. The bird hunting scenes Clean Shot (27 x 34.1 cm, sheet 30.2 x 46.5 cm) and Early Gunner (24.1 x 38.1 cm) are both dated circa 1930.