THE ARTISTS OF THE WPA AT SWANN

Timed Online Sale Closing January 25 at 12PM EST

 Swann Galleries is pleased to present the fourth iteration of The Artists of the WPA auction. Many artists honed their craft while employed in New Deal programs, resulting in this auction’s wide range of objects, including photographs, prints, posters, paintings, mural studies, dioramas, and work program signage. The sale will be a timed online auction opening for bidding on Thursday, January 11 at 10 am Eastern and will begin closing on Thursday, January 25 at 12 pm Eastern. Bidding is available on the Swann Galleries App and on live.swanngalleries.com. Exhibition hours are 12 pm to 5 pm on Saturday, January 20, and Monday, January 22 through Wednesday, January 24.

Photography includes Berenice Abbott, Dorothea Lange, Marion Post Wolcott, and Walker Evans, among others. Lange’s connection to her subject is inherent, but her mastery of capturing moving andthought-provoking compositions was developed through practice. A variant on her Migrant Mother, 1936, printed 1990s, gives an alternative look at one of the most recognizable images from the Great Depression ($2,000-3,000). Also by Lange is Son of a cotton sharecropper. Twelve years old. Near Cleveland, Mississippi, silver print, 1937 ($4,000-6,000). Further highlights include Walker Evans’s Connecticut Frame House, silver print, 1933 ($5,000-7,500); Berenice Abbott’s View of Logger using a McGiffert Log Loader, CA, and View of Logger Preparing to cut, CA, together, two silver prints, 1943 ($4,000-6,000); and Marion Post Wolcott’s Highway and Farm During Snowstorm near Barnard, Vermont, silver print, 1940 ($4,000-6,000), as well as a group of six color photographs by Marion Post Wolcott, Jack Delano and Russell Lee ($1,500-2,500).

           Among the paintings offered in the sale are works by Robert Gwathmey and Joseph Solman. These artists pushed the boundaries of subject and format with themes of social justice and modernist sensibilities. Gwathmey is present with Flower Freshness, oil on canvas, circa 1970 ($12,000-18,000); and Solman’s Watching an Excavation, oil on canvas, 1938, is a great example of his exploration of themes and aesthetics not widely accepted in the American art market at the time ($6,000-8,000). Further works include Palmer Hayden’s On the Jersey Side, oil on canvas, circa late 1930s ($15,000-25,000); Claude Clark’s Drafting, oil on board, circa 1940-41 ($12,000-18,000); Joseph Delaney’s Seated Woman Reading, oil on wood panel, 1949 ($5,000-7,000); and a run of works by Raphael Soyer including Untitled (Portrait of a Student), oil on canvas, circa 1930 ($800-1,200).  

Conceived out of crisis, the Federal Art Project was instrumental in the birth and development of modern and contemporary printmaking and the widespread utilization of mediums and styles that have become synonymous with American art. Printmakers in the sale include Thomas Hart Benton with Departure of the Joads, lithograph, 1939, commissioned by Twentieth-Century Fox Film Corporation, from The Grapes of Wrath ($12,000-18,000), Grant Wood’s July Fifteenth, lithograph, 1938 ($4,000-6,000), and their contemporaries.

The sale is rounded out by mural studies and vintage posters. Mural studies feature Louise Ronnebeck’s Oil Riggers, circa 1937, a sketch for the West Wall Amarillo Texas Post Office and Court House ($2,000-3,000); Egbert Norman Clark’s Fur Traders, & Grist Mills, two studies for mural paintings documenting the history of commerce in Utica, New York ($1,500-2,500); and two mural studies by James Russell Sherman ($1,200-1,800). Posters include works promoting informed participation in democracy, as well as advertisements for the 1939 World’s Fair.

IMAGES

Aso see:

https://photoarthq.blogspot.com/2024/01/sloan-berenice-abbot-dorothea-lange.html

https://photoarthq.blogspot.com/2024/01/walker-evans-more.html

 / 7GO
ROCKWELL KENT (1882-1971) And Now Where?

1
5d 19h 24m 57s left
ROCKWELL KENT (1882-1971) AND NOW WHERE?
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
Current bid:
 
$500
PLACE BID
DOROTHEA LANGE (1895-1965) Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California.

2
5d 19h 25m 57s left
DOROTHEA LANGE (1895-1965) MIGRANT MOTHER, NIPOMO, CALIFORNIA.
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
Current bid:
 
$1,700
PLACE BID
(RUSSELL LEE; MARION POST WOLCOTT; JACK DELANO) A group of 6 F.S.A. color photographs.

3
5d 19h 26m 57s left
(RUSSELL LEE; MARION POST WOLCOTT; JACK DELANO) A GROUP OF 6 F.S.A. COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Starting Bid: $750 
Est.
 
$1,500 - $2,500
PLACE BID
ISAAC FRIEDLANDER (1890-1968) Derelict #1.

4
5d 19h 27m 57s left
ISAAC FRIEDLANDER (1890-1968) DERELICT #1.
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
Current bid:
 
$500
PLACE BID
JOSEPH LEBOIT (1907-2002) Goon Squad.

5
5d 19h 28m 57s left
JOSEPH LEBOIT (1907-2002) GOON SQUAD.
Starting Bid: $500 
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
PLACE BID
RAPHAEL SOYER (1899-1987) Springtime.

6
5d 19h 29m 57s left
RAPHAEL SOYER (1899-1987) SPRINGTIME.
Est.
 
$2,000 - $3,000
Current bid:
 
$1,000
PLACE BID
 
$1,000 - $1,500
PLACE BID
CHARLES TURZAK (1899-1986) Under the Bridge

9
5d 19h 32m 57s left
CHARLES TURZAK (1899-1986) UNDER THE BRIDGE
Est.
 
$1,500 - $2,500
Current bid:
 
$800
PLACE BID
ELI JACOBI (1898-1984) East of the Bowery.

10
5d 19h 33m 57s left
ELI JACOBI (1898-1984) EAST OF THE BOWERY.
Starting Bid: $750 
Est.
 
$1,500 - $2,500
PLACE BID
REGINALD MARSH (1898-1954) The Bowery.

11
5d 19h 34m 57s left
REGINALD MARSH (1898-1954) THE BOWERY.
Est.
 
$2,000 - $3,000
Current bid:
 
$1,000
PLACE BID
JOHN S. DE MARTELLY (1903-1979) Economic Discussion.

12
5d 19h 35m 57s left
JOHN S. DE MARTELLY (1903-1979) ECONOMIC DISCUSSION.
Starting Bid: $500 
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
$2,500 - $3,500
PLACE BID
ALBERT PELS (1910-1998) Untitled, (Two Women).

14
5d 19h 37m 57s left
ALBERT PELS (1910-1998) UNTITLED, (TWO WOMEN).
Est.
 
$800 - $1,200
Current bid:
 
$650
PLACE BID
RUSSELL LEE (1903-1986) A selection of 6 photographs showcasing the range of Lee's work.

15
5d 19h 38m 57s left
RUSSELL LEE (1903-1986) A SELECTION OF 6 PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWCASING THE RANGE OF LEE'S WORK.
Est.
 
$1,500 - $2,500
Current bid:
 
$750
PLACE BID
 
$2,000 - $3,000
PLACE BID

BENTON SPRUANCE (1904-1967) Worlds of One's Own.

19
5d 19h 42m 57s left
BENTON SPRUANCE (1904-1967) WORLDS OF ONE'S OWN.
Starting Bid: $750 
Est.
 
$1,500 - $2,500
PLACE BID
JOSEPH WOLINS (1915-1999) i) Waiting, and ii) Recollections of New York.

20
5d 19h 43m 57s left
JOSEPH WOLINS (1915-1999) I) WAITING, AND II) RECOLLECTIONS OF NEW YORK.
Starting Bid: $300 
Est.
 
$600 - $800
PLACE BID
PEGGY BACON (1895-1987) The Spirit of Rain.

21
5d 19h 44m 57s left
PEGGY BACON (1895-1987) THE SPIRIT OF RAIN.
Est.
 
$300 - $500
Current bid:
 
$150
PLACE BID
FLETCHER MARTIN (1904-1979) Shower.

22
5d 19h 45m 57s left
FLETCHER MARTIN (1904-1979) SHOWER.
Est.
 
$300 - $500
Current bid:
 
$500
PLACE BID
Est.
 
$2,500 - $3,500
PLACE BID
CHARLES FREDERICK SURENDORF (1906-1979) Stage Driver's Retreat.

24
5d 19h 47m 57s left
CHARLES FREDERICK SURENDORF (1906-1979) STAGE DRIVER'S RETREAT.
Est.
 
$500 - $700
Current bid:
 
$250
PLACE BID
WILL BARNET (1911-2012) Porch.

25
5d 19h 48m 57s left
WILL BARNET (1911-2012) PORCH.
Starting Bid: $500 
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
PLACE BID
DANIEL CELENTANO (1902-1980) Study for Going to the Festival.

26
5d 19h 49m 57s left
DANIEL CELENTANO (1902-1980) STUDY FOR GOING TO THE FESTIVAL.
Est.
 
$300 - $500
Current bid:
 
$375
PLACE BID
WILLIAM GROPPER (1897-1977) Shtetl, (Series).

27
5d 19h 50m 57s left
WILLIAM GROPPER (1897-1977) SHTETL, (SERIES).
Est.
 
$100 - $200
Current bid:
 
$100
PLACE BID
NICK BUONGIORNO (1908-1985) Untitled, City Park.

28
5d 19h 51m 57s left
NICK BUONGIORNO (1908-1985) UNTITLED, CITY PARK.
Est.
 
$600 - $800
Current bid:
 
$400
PLACE BID
JOHN SLOAN (1871-1951) The Women's Page.

29
5d 19h 52m 57s left
JOHN SLOAN (1871-1951) THE WOMEN'S PAGE.
Starting Bid: $500 
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
PLACE BID
JOHN SLOAN (1871-1951) Two etchings.

30
5d 19h 53m 57s left
JOHN SLOAN (1871-1951) TWO ETCHINGS.
Starting Bid: $750 
Est.
 
$1,500 - $2,500
PLACE BID
CLAUDE CLARK (1915-2001) The Cradle of Liberty.

31
5d 19h 54m 57s left
CLAUDE CLARK (1915-2001) THE CRADLE OF LIBERTY.
Starting Bid: $500 
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
PLACE BID
ISAAC FRIEDLANDER (1890-1968) East Side (New York).

32
5d 19h 55m 57s left
ISAAC FRIEDLANDER (1890-1968) EAST SIDE (NEW YORK).
Est.
 
$700 - $1,000
Current bid:
 
$375
PLACE BID
MABEL DWIGHT (1875-1955) Fish.

33
5d 19h 56m 57s left
MABEL DWIGHT (1875-1955) FISH.
Starting Bid: $1,500 
Est.
 
$3,000 - $5,000
PLACE BID
JOHN SLOAN (1871-1951) Fourteenth Street, the Wigwam.

34
5d 19h 57m 57s left
JOHN SLOAN (1871-1951) FOURTEENTH STREET, THE WIGWAM.
Est.
 
$1,500 - $2,500
Current bid:
 
$800
PLACE BID
LEO JOHN MEISSNER (1895-1977) Blue Sky.

35
5d 19h 58m 57s left
LEO JOHN MEISSNER (1895-1977) BLUE SKY.
Est.
 
$400 - $600
Current bid:
 
$225
PLACE BID
ARMIN LANDECK (1905-1984) Tenament Walls.

36
5d 19h 59m 57s left
ARMIN LANDECK (1905-1984) TENAMENT WALLS.
Est.
 
$300 - $500
Current bid:
 
$175
PLACE BID
Per Page: 
36 
 
 / 7

JOHN VACHON (1914-1975) Photographer's Studio, Fredericksburg, Virginia.

41
5d 20h 2m 36s left
JOHN VACHON (1914-1975) PHOTOGRAPHER'S STUDIO, FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA.
Starting Bid: $350 
Est.
 
$700 - $1,000
PLACE BID

 
$5,000 - $7,500
PLACE BID
GRANT WOOD (1891-1942) July Fifteenth.

48
5d 20h 9m 36s left
GRANT WOOD (1891-1942) JULY FIFTEENTH.
Starting Bid: $2,000 
Est.
 
$4,000 - $6,000
PLACE BID
MARION POST WOLCOTT (1910-1990) Highway and Farm During Snowstorm near Barnard, Vermont.

49
5d 20h 10m 36s left
MARION POST WOLCOTT (1910-1990) HIGHWAY AND FARM DURING SNOWSTORM NEAR BARNARD, VERMONT.
Starting Bid: $2,000 
Est.
 
$4,000 - $6,000
PLACE BID
ALBERT PELS (1910-1998) Landscape.

50
5d 20h 11m 36s left
ALBERT PELS (1910-1998) LANDSCAPE.
Est.
 
$800 - $1,200
Current bid:
 
$550
PLACE BID
JOSEPH DELANEY (1904-1991) Perce Rock, From Surprise Hill.

51
5d 20h 12m 36s left
JOSEPH DELANEY (1904-1991) PERCE ROCK, FROM SURPRISE HILL.
Starting Bid: $2,000 
Est.
 
$4,000 - $6,000
PLACE BID
ROCKWELL KENT (1882-1971) The Tree.

52
5d 20h 13m 36s left
ROCKWELL KENT (1882-1971) THE TREE.
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
Current bid:
 
$600
PLACE BID
HENRY IVES COBB JR. (1883-1974) Untitled, (Grand Central Terminal).

53
5d 20h 14m 36s left
HENRY IVES COBB JR. (1883-1974) UNTITLED, (GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL).
Est.
 
$700 - $900
Current bid:
 
$1,000
PLACE BID
REYNOLD WEIDENAAR (1915-1985) Last Run.

54
5d 20h 15m 36s left
REYNOLD WEIDENAAR (1915-1985) LAST RUN.
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
Current bid:
 
$500
PLACE BID
ALBERT PELS (1910-1998) Untitled, (Houses and Railyard).

55
5d 20h 16m 36s left
ALBERT PELS (1910-1998) UNTITLED, (HOUSES AND RAILYARD).
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
Current bid:
 
$750
PLACE BID
LETTERIO CALAPAI (1901-1993) Eight-thirty Express.

56
5d 20h 17m 36s left
LETTERIO CALAPAI (1901-1993) EIGHT-THIRTY EXPRESS.
Starting Bid: $500 
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
PLACE BID
HARRY SHOKLER (1896-1978) Railroad Yards.

57
5d 20h 18m 36s left
HARRY SHOKLER (1896-1978) RAILROAD YARDS.
Est.
 
$200 - $300
Current bid:
 
$110
PLACE BID
SAMUEL L. MARGOLIES (1897-1974) Round the Bend.

58
5d 20h 19m 36s left
SAMUEL L. MARGOLIES (1897-1974) ROUND THE BEND.
Est.
 
$1,500 - $2,500
Current bid:
 
$800
PLACE BID
THOMAS HART BENTON (1889-1975) Morning Train.

59
5d 20h 20m 36s left
THOMAS HART BENTON (1889-1975) MORNING TRAIN.
Est.
 
$2,500 - $3,500
Current bid:
 
$1,300
PLACE BID
REGINALD MARSH (1898-1954) Erie R. R. Locos Watering.

60
5d 20h 21m 36s left
REGINALD MARSH (1898-1954) ERIE R. R. LOCOS WATERING.
Est.
 
$1,500 - $2,500
Current bid:
 
$750
PLACE BID
GEORGE KENNETH HARTWELL (1891-1949) Subway.

61
5d 20h 22m 36s left
GEORGE KENNETH HARTWELL (1891-1949) SUBWAY.
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
Current bid:
 
$500
PLACE BID
JOSEPH WOLINS (1915-1999) Elevated Curve.

62
5d 20h 23m 36s left
JOSEPH WOLINS (1915-1999) ELEVATED CURVE.
Starting Bid: $400 
Est.
 
$800 - $1,200
PLACE BID
CARL E. PICKHARDT, JR. (1908-2004) The Subway.

63
5d 20h 24m 36s left
CARL E. PICKHARDT, JR. (1908-2004) THE SUBWAY.
Est.
 
$800 - $1,200
Current bid:
 
$400
PLACE BID
DESIGNER UNKNOWN USA Work Program / WPA.

64
5d 20h 25m 36s left
DESIGNER UNKNOWN USA WORK PROGRAM / WPA.
Starting Bid: $1,000 
Est.
 
$2,000 - $3,000
PLACE BID
GOTTLOB BRIEM (1899-1972) Power, Washington Bridge, NYC.

65
5d 20h 26m 36s left
GOTTLOB BRIEM (1899-1972) POWER, WASHINGTON BRIDGE, NYC.
Starting Bid: $300 
Est.
 
$600 - $800
PLACE BID
LOUIS LOZOWICK (1892-1973) Guts of Manhattan.

66
5d 20h 27m 36s left
LOUIS LOZOWICK (1892-1973) GUTS OF MANHATTAN.
Est.
 
$2,500 - $3,500
Current bid:
 
$1,400
PLACE BID
BERENICE ABBOTT (1898-1991) Norris Dam construction, Tennessee.

67
5d 20h 28m 36s left
BERENICE ABBOTT (1898-1991) NORRIS DAM CONSTRUCTION, TENNESSEE.
Starting Bid: $1,000 
Est.
 
$2,000 - $3,000
PLACE BID
RUSSELL LEE (1903-1986) In Front of the Courthouse, San Augustine, Texas.

68
5d 20h 29m 36s left
RUSSELL LEE (1903-1986) IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE, SAN AUGUSTINE, TEXAS.
Starting Bid: $350 
Est.
 
$700 - $1,000
PLACE BID
ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN (1915-1985) The Bleached Skull of a Steer on the Dry Sunbaked Earth

69
5d 20h 30m 36s left
ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN (1915-1985) THE BLEACHED SKULL OF A STEER ON THE DRY SUNBAKED EARTH
Starting Bid: $500 
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
PLACE BID
LOUIS B. SIEGRIEST (1899-1989) Indian Court Federal Building / Chippewa Picture Writing.

70
5d 20h 31m 36s left
LOUIS B. SIEGRIEST (1899-1989) INDIAN COURT FEDERAL BUILDING / CHIPPEWA PICTURE WRITING.
Starting Bid: $500 
Est.
 
$1,000 - $1,500
PLACE BID
ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN (1915-1985) Dust Storm, Cimarron County, Oklahoma.

71
5d 20h 32m 36s left
ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN (1915-1985) DUST STORM, CIMARRON COUNTY, OKLAHOMA.
Starting Bid: $1,300 
Est.
 
$2,500 - $3,500
PLACE BID
JOHN SLOAN (1871-1951) Better Mouse Traps.

72
5d 20h 33m 36s left
JOHN SLOAN (1871-1951) BETTER MOUSE TRAPS.
Est.
 
$1,500 - $2,500
Current bid:
 
$750