Barbara Latham

Barbara Latham (June 6, 1896–May 28, 1989) was an American painter, print maker, and children's book illustrator.

Early life and education

Latham was born on June 6, 1896 in Walpole, Massachusetts and raised in Norwich, Connecticut. Her parents were Allen and Caroline Walker Latham.

She studied at Norwich Free Academy, and at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York from which she graduated in 1919. She also studied, at the Art Students League summer school in Woodstock, New York, with modernist painter Andrew Dasburg.

Taos, New Mexico

In 1925, Latham went to Taos, New Mexico, where she was introduced to artist Howard Cook by Victor Higgins. She married Cook in May 1927. From 1928 to 1935, they traveled: to Europe, Mexico and the American South. In 1938, the couple settled near Taos on the Talpa ridge. This became their base until 1976.

Latham painted and created prints of the Taos landscape, including town views and scenes of the rural life of the Taos Pueblo Indians. In addition, she did illustrations for children's books, including Pedro, Nina and Perritto (1939) and Maggie, which was included in the American Institute of Graphic Arts best books list from 1945 to 1950.

Roswell and Santa Fe, New Mexico

In 1967, Cook became the first artist in the Roswell Museum and Art Center's Artist-in-Residence program. The couple started to spend their winters in Roswell, New Mexico, where they eventually moved in 1973.

Due to Cook's health issues, the couple moved to Santa Fe in 1976. Cook died in 1980. Lathan died on May 28, 1989.

External links

• Taos Painters: Barbara (Cook) Latham (1896-1989)