Ear of Corn antique print. Elsie Lower lithograph c1909.

Corn Cross-pollination Boone County White Dent - Black Mexican Sweet-corn.

Original chromolithograph by Elsie E. Lower, published in New York in 1909 by the American Lithographic Company for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Most of the accomplished botanical artists at that time were women, as art was considered an acceptable female pursuit. Early in the twentieth century, government illustrator was one of the few employments available to women artists .

Artists were employed to do watercolours of U.S. grown fruit and vegetables. Lithographs were then published to encourage growers to cultivate crops. As the bulletins were not widely published, these charming lithographs are rarely seen today.

In fine condtion, 225 x 140mm (8 7/8 x 5 1/2 inches). Slight damage down left edge of paper, which will be covered when framed.