Imagine, for a moment, a quiet evening in 1915 New York. The city hums outside, but inside a small, lamplit studio, three men are at work—each a master in his own right. Arthur B. Davies, the enigmatic visionary of American modernism, leans over a copper plate, his eyes alight with inspiration. At his side, Frank A. Nankivell and Ernest Haskell—two of the era’s most celebrated printers—prepare their tools, ready to translate Davies’ vision into something tangible, something eternal.

This is where the story of “Doorway to Illusion” begins.

“Doorway to Illusion” isn’t just an etching—it’s an invitation. Davies, known for his dreamlike landscapes and ethereal figures, has conjured here a passage between worlds. The soft-ground etching technique gives the work a velvety, almost otherworldly texture, while the aquatint washes the scene in subtle, shifting tones. As you gaze upon it, you’ll find yourself drawn inward, as if stepping through the doorway yourself—leaving the ordinary behind for a realm of mystery and beauty.

But the magic doesn’t end with Davies. Look closely at the margins: you’ll see the stamped signature of the artist, a mark of authenticity and pride. And, in pencil, the signatures of Nankivell and Haskell—two men whose technical genius helped bring Davies’ vision to life. Their marks are more than signatures; they are a testament to a rare collaboration, a meeting of minds at the height of their powers.

To own “Doorway to Illusion” is to hold a piece of art history. Davies was a leader of the Ashcan School and a driving force behind the legendary Armory Show, which forever changed the course of American art. This print is not only a work of beauty—it’s a relic of a turning point, a physical link to the artists who dared to dream differently.

This edition was printed in 1929 as part of a limited edition of 200. The plated were destroyed after the run. Prints from the run are held in major museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

So, imagine this: “Doorway to Illusion” framed on your wall, a daily reminder that art is not just something we see—it’s something we experience, something that transforms us. With every glance, you step through Davies’ doorway, into a world where imagination reigns.

This is more than a print. It’s a story, a legacy, a portal. Will you step through the doorway?