Christmas Greetings

Christmas Greetings Mildred and Harvey Mudd
Franz Geritz (1895 - 1945) woodcut
California
circa 1935
8 ¼ x 6 inches
John and Mary Harrell Collection, GTU 90-3-01

Well known for his landscapes (the collection has several examples), he also was commisioned to create custom Christmas cards, as this one for Mildred and Harvey Mudd. Harvey Mudd was the son of miner and philanthropist Seeley W. Mudd and brother to Seeley G. Mudd, who donated funds for the Mudd building at Pacific School of Religion. Harvey had a particular interest in Claremont Colleges in Claremont, California.

Geretz arrived in America from Budapest in 1909. He lived briefly in Chicago before moving to California. He graduated from California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland in 1921.

He moved to Los Angeles, where he taught a block printing class for the University of California Extension in Los Angeles from 1922 to 1932. His work was exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Diego Fine Arts Gallery and the Smithsonian Institute.