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Sylvia Spicuzza
'Farmer with Cows' original Regionalist painting on board Midwestern landscape

ca. 1938

About the Item

This early work by American artist Sylvia Spicuzza is an excellent example of Regionalism: in the foreground, a farmer in blue stands before a herd of cattle. Beyond the fence of their corral, rows of haystacks draw the viewer's eye toward the farmhouse and the lush landscape under a blue sky. The reverse of the painting contains another original composition, with horses grazing before a red barn. The Regionalists, the most famous of which being Thomas Hart Benton, Grant Wood and John Steuart Curry, were so named because they were associated with particular regions of the United States – especially the Midwest. Even more, the movement was known for images like this, emphasizing the prosperity of America's heartland and agriculture. 23.75 x 15.5 inches, artwork 31.63 x 23.13 inches, frame Stamped with artist's signature, lower right Framed to conservation standards using archival materials including 100 percent rag mounting materials. Housed in a gold finish wood moulding with a linen-wrapped liner. Overall good condition; some surface marks, top center; scattered pitting throughout bottom quarter; housed in a new custom frame. Born in 1908, Sylvia Spicuzza was the daughter of noted painter Francesco Spicuzza. Sylvia's work is rich, diverse and fascinating collection of drawings, watercolors and prints from the 1920's to the 1990's. Her style ranges from early figurative drawings to Regionalism, Art Deco, lyrical abstractions of every conceivable subject (both real and imagined), as well as figurative paintings that reflect the work of Picasso, Kandinsky and Max Ernst in the 1930s and 1940s. Biomorphic and organic, her Modernist images are presented with Sylvia Spicuzza's own unique sense of style, humor, and fantasy.
  • Creator:
    Sylvia Spicuzza (American)
  • Creation Year:
    ca. 1938
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 31.63 in (80.35 cm)Width: 23.13 in (58.76 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Overall good condition; some surface marks, top center; scattered pitting throughout bottom quarter; housed in a new custom frame.
  • Gallery Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 9852g1stDibs: LU60536664362
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