Leon Gilmour (1907 – 1996): A Pioneer of California Printmaking Leon Gilmour (1907 – 1996) stands as a pivotal figure in the history of American printmaking, particularly within the Regionalist movement. Born in Riga, Latvia—then part of the Russian Empire—Gilmour’s early life was marked by displacement and immigration to the United States in 1916 at the age of nine through Ellis Island. This formative experience instilled a profound appreciation for labor and resilience that would permeate his artistic vision throughout his career. He pursued formal education initially at Boston's School of…