The purpose of this study was to determine Mahonri M. Young's philosophy of art as recorded in his personal writings and the writings of his contemporaries—particularly his close friend, Jack Sears. Magazines, books, newspapers, and miscellaneous unpublished materials such as letters, theses, scrapbooks and personal papers were examined for the purpose of becoming more familiar with the character and personality of Mahonri Young. From these sources of information the following was attempted: (1) to record anecdotes and experiences which may have had some significance on the development of his philosophy, (2) to glean from his own writings his feelings and attitudes towards art and artists, and (3) to categorize his basic ideas and determine his philosophy.Mahonri M. Young was an excellent teacher of sculpture, drawing, and etching and helped pioneer the modern realist movement to America. Stressing the importance of good draftsmanship, he disliked the modern art trends and favored those artists who emphasized human characterization. He preferred painting and sculpting genre scenes and became famous for his laborers, cowboys, and prizefight objects.

The purpose of this thesis was to study and to document the life and work of Mahonri Young as a printmaker. The more specific questions to be answered in this study were: 1. How does Mr. Young rate as a fine printmaker? 2. What are his contributions to American Art as a fine printmaker?