Etchings of San Francisco Bay Through the Years

In this Year of the Bay, San Francisco is all about what happens in and on its surrounding waters. From the 150th anniversary of the Port to the arrival of the America's Cup races this summer, this exhibit celebrates all things aquatic in San Francisco history: its vibrant shipping and fishing industries, its recreational swimming and boating clubs, and other aspects of local life as defined by the City's relationship to its watery location.

Come see the Aquatic City exhibit on the Sixth Floor of the Main Library, through August 8.



San Francisco Bay From Nob Hill in the 1850s
 



San Francisco Bay from Nob Hill in 1925
 



San Francisco Bay from Nob Hill in 1945
 


San Francisco Bay from Nob Hill in 1965
 


See these and more etchings of San Francisco’s changing landscape in Etchings of San Francisco Through the Years by Alec Stern. Alec Stern was an etcher and art publisher who studied at the California School of Fine Arts and Columbia University. He worked as an illustrator for the San Franciso Chronicle as well as for book publishers and advertising agencies. He also travelled the world working on commission, which led to a series of "Etchings of America." In 1955 he started a small publishing studio in San Mateo.

Also take a look at Stern’s other books from our collection: Etchings of San Francisco’s Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf, Etchings of Fascinating San Francisco and the Bay Area, The City by the Golden Gate, Etchings, and Etchings of Yosemite.

Comments

  1. Thank you! Alec Stern was my grandfather and it is so touching to see this post 20 years after his death.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ilana, I just bought some of your Grandfather's work at a local shop in Portland, Oregon, and they are just STUNNING! I love them so much I had to try to find the artist, which led me to you. We moved to Portland from San Francisco in 2013, and are always on the hunt for beautiful SF memorabilia, so when I ran across these lovely water colors, I knew they were something special. Your Grandfather was obviously a talented man, and I feel so honored to hang his works in my home.

    Best,

    Mel

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ilana, I just bought some of your Grandfather's work at a local shop in Portland, Oregon, and they are just STUNNING! I love them so much I had to try to find the artist, which led me to you. We moved to Portland from San Francisco in 2013, and are always on the hunt for beautiful SF memorabilia, so when I ran across these lovely water colors, I knew they were something special. Your Grandfather was obviously a talented man, and I feel so honored to hang his works in my home.

    Best,

    Mel

    ReplyDelete

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