Releasing in January 2025
EDITHE BEUTLER:
Pioneering Colorist in a Monochrome World
By CJ Cook and Robert L. Harned
Explore Edithe Beutler’s captivating legacy in this beautifully illustrated book, which delves into the life of one of America’s foremost colorists, whose unmatched skills brought black-and-white photographs to life long before the invention of color film.
Edithe’s journey is chronicled with stunning visuals and personal stories about her extraordinary talents sought-after by universities and Hollywood in the 1920s and her pivotal partnership with Eastman Kodak in Hawaii. Discover her dedication to transforming monochrome images into vibrant Hawaiian masterpieces and her contribution to geographical maps for the US Government before WWII, as well as the profound bond between Edithe and her daughter, Sally, a silent film star in Hollywood.
Edithe Beutler: Beautifying Hawaii with Color is a tribute to a woman who defied societal norms and excelled as an artist, entrepreneur, and matriarch.
"Before the invention of color photography, Edithe Beutler was among the artists who would painstakingly paint over black-and-white images to give them vibrancy and life (“She transformed the images into a different kind of artwork, and she did so with talent, delicacy, and intuition”) … Cook and Harned’s biography of an artistic pioneer offers glimpses into old Hollywood, Hawaii, and the original method for coloring photographs… The authors have intelligently arranged Beutler’s arresting images on the pages, highlighting the depth and beauty of her techniques. The chapters are enriched by fascinating details from the silent film era, a bygone Honolulu, and exotic travels across the world.”
“Edithe Beutler traces the colorist’s trajectory from California to Hawaii. Her colorized photographs of Hawaii show how her oil paint–based colorization process makes them vibrant and bespoke. Colorized seascapes, flora, and traditional Hawaiian fishing practices are juxtaposed with their black-and-white originals. A biography of an intrepid twentieth-century colorist attests to the artistry of an old technological process while documenting the life of a groundbreaking woman.”
“This inspiring tome chronicles a remarkable, talented woman, a lost craft, and a bygone era. It should engage anyone interested in the art of colorizing and an extraordinary woman.”