Back
American Art
|
- Sale 1231
Live
| Chicago
Oct 17 | 2:00 PM CDT
Live
| Chicago
Sale 1231
| Chicago
| Chicago
Estimate$7,000 – $9,000
Provenance:
The American Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 1992
Exhibited:
St. Louis, The American Gallery, Joseph P. Vorst: Painter and Lithographer of the American Scene, May 14 - June 30, 1992, no. 12
Lot note:
Joseph Paul Vorst was born in 1897 in Essen, Germany. From a young age, he proved talented at drawing and pursued an education in the arts, which culminated with his enrollment at the Academy of Arts in Berlin in 1930. There, he became acquainted with the works of prominent Expressionist and Impressionist painters of the era. With Nazism on the rise, Vorst denounced the systematic censoring of Jewish artists and subsequently fled the deleterious climate in Germany, to eventually settle in Saint-Louis.
Prior to emigrating to the United States, Vorst was baptized and joined The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter-Day Saints, remaining an active member until his death in 1947. His dedication to his faith instilled in him life-long values of compassion and profound kinship with others, which in turn permeated his artistic output. He quickly embraced the social realist aesthetic that pervaded the arts in the context of the Great Depression, frequently participating in the programs of the WPA, and exhibiting his work widely to the public. His paintings translate his deep engagement with the communities affected by the economic crisis, never shying away from the controversial topics of race and class, and portraying the familiar themes of labor and economic hardship with benevolence and dignity.
Framed: 31 5/8 x 37 5/8 inches.
Moderate deposits of surface dirt and dust; two small areas of loss to board and paint along upper center edge; two small paint losses on upper right corner edge; three small areas of paint loss along center left edge; one small puncture to board through the "Y" in the Liberty bell, upper center, accompanied by displaced material. Under UV light: three small, localized areas of inpainting in upper left of sky; a vertical line of inpainting along the right shoulder of the man standing on the left; scattered spots of inpainting in upper overalls of man on right; additional small strokes of inpainting in upper right of sky and in lower right corner. Additional images available upon request.
The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.
The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.
Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.
To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]
