Elfriede Abbe


Elfriede Martha Abbe was an American sculptor, wood engraver and botanical illustrator, often displaying nature and simple country living inspired by her Upstate New York home. A self-publisher, Abbe created numerous hand-printed books, which she printed on a printing press in her studio.

Personal life and teaching

Elfriede Abbe was born in Washington, D.C. in 1919. Her statue "The Hunter" was featured at the 1939 New York World's Fair in New York. She graduated from Cornell University in 1940, earning a degree in architecture, and attended Syracuse University. From 1942 until her retirement in 1974 she was an illustrator at Cornell. After retiring from Cornell, she lived and worked in Vermont. She lived in Manchester until her death in 2012. During her retirement, she published on art and natural history, continuing to produce artwork throughout her life.

Notable awards