DePol, John, 1913-2004

DePol is a wood engraver who has worked in commercial printing.

Artist and engraver John DePol was born in 1913 in New York City. As a young man DePol spent much of his free time sketching scenes which would later be the basis of etchings or wood engravings. He enrolled in evening classes in etching and lithography while working full-time as a statistical clerk and securities runner on Wall Street. DePol served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II, continuing to sketch as he traveled in Ireland, England, France, and Germany. After the war he returned to work on Wall Street while also developing his interests in etching, wood engraving and printing. In the 1950s his work attracted notice and he engaged in independent work decorating private-press booklets, separate prints, broadsides, and limited edition books. Following his retirement in 1978, DePol continued his career as wood engraver, working for private presses, institutions, and individuals. His work is part of the permanent collections of libraries and museums throughout the United States and abroad. John DePol died in 2004.

A wood engraver, DePol makes his living as a commercial artist and book illustrator.

John DePol is considered one of the greatest wood engravers of the last 100 years. Born in New York in 1915, he began in 1947 an illustrious career as a wood engraver for some of the finest private presses in the United States, including Hammer Creek Press, Pickering Press, Red Ozier Press, Stone House Press, and Yellow Barn Press. An academician of the National Academy of Design, DePol's work can be found in the collections of museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and in libraries such as The New York Public Library (Rare Books) and the Library of Congress, as well as numerous North American universities.

Artist, wood engraver. John DePol was born in New York City in 1913. He left school at the age of sixteen to help support his family. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed in Ireland. During this period, he studied lithography and produced several illustrations and prints. Following the war, DePol worked as a graphic designer and began wood engraving in 1947. Since that time, DePol has illustrated over two hundred books and widely exhibited his work. He has spent several decades teaching the art of wood engraving.

Artist, wood engraver.

John DePol was born in New York City in 1913. He left school at the age of sixteen to help support his family. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed in Ireland. During this period, he studied lithography and produced several illustrations and prints. Following the war, DePol worked as a graphic designer and began wood engraving in 1947. Since that time, DePol has illustrated over two hundred books and widely exhibited his work. He has spent several decades teaching the art of wood engraving.

John DePol was born to Joseph and Theresa DePol on September 16, 1913, in Greenwich Village, New York. As the eldest of three children, DePol left high school early in order to support his family after his father’s untimely death. He began working as a statistical clerk and securities runner on Wall Street while attending night school where he learned typing and shorthand.

In March 1938, DePol enrolled at the Art Students League in Manhattan, taking evening classes in etching and lithography with instructor George Picken. Prior to this point, DePol was a self-taught artist, sketching Manhattan scenes and landmarks and printing etchings on his own hand-built intaglio press.

With the dawning of World War II, DePol served in the United States Army Air Force from 1943-1945. While on duty in Northern Ireland, he began taking classes at the College of Art in Belfast. During this period, DePol also sketched many of the sights and scenes in Ireland, England, and France, drawings that would later serve as the basis for many prints and book illustrations.

Upon returning to the United States, DePol began working as a production assistant at Lewis F. White Company, a small commercial printing firm. His experiences at L. F. White Company allow DePol to learn all about typography. After L. F. White Company, DePol worked in the private studio of Bernard Brussel-Smith, one of the finest wood engravers in America. During this time, DePol began doing independent work for private presses such as the Between-the-Hours Press of Ben Grauer, Prairies Press of Carroll Coleman, Zauberberg Press of Donn Drenner, and Hammer Creek Press of John Fass.

Throughout his career, DePol received several awards and honors, including the Richard Comyn Eames Museum Purchase Prize (1952) and the Kate W. Arms Memorial Prize (1955). In 1954, DePol was appointed as an Associate of the National Academy of Design.

Shortly after returning to the United States in 1945, DePol married Thelma Roth. They had one daughter, Patricia DePol. John DePol died on December 15, 2004 at the age of 91, near his home in Cliffside Park, N.J.