Skip to main content

William Gropper Art

American, 1897-1977

William Gropper was a painter and cartoonist who, with caricature style, focused on social concerns. Gropper was born on December 3, 1897, in New York. William Gropper was a student of Robert Henri and George Bellows at the Ferrer School from 1912–15. During the 1930s, working as a part of the Federal Arts Project, he produced some of the most gripping social protest works of the Great Depression. His subjects included industrial strikes, especially in coal mining and steel-production centers. Gropper did much illustration-cartoon work for the New York Tribune newspaper, Vanity Fair magazine and the politically left-wing publication, New Masses. Some of his other pieces focused on the hypocrisy of government figures, especially members of the United States Senate. Gropper died on January 6, 1977, in Manhasset.

to
1
27
1
10
1
22
6
11
11
3
2
1
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
20
14
8
6
6
6
5
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
28
2
4
3
1
30
6,888
3,227
2,514
1,217
14
11
6
5
5
Artist: William Gropper
Family at the Beach WPA Modernism American Scene Social Realism Mid 20th Century
By William Gropper
Located in New York, NY
Family at the Beach WPA Modernism American Scene Social Realism Mid 20th Century William Gropper (1898 - 1977) "Family at the Beach" 27 1/2 x 19 1/2 inches Mixed media on paper, c. ...
Category

1940s American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Gouache, Watercolor, Ink, Paper

Jewish Shtetl Hasidic Wedding Dance Judaica Lithograph Yiddish Social Realism
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Jewish Shtetl Hasidic Klezmer Musicians. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Jewish Shtetl Klezmer Wedding Tanz Judaica Lithograph WPA Yiddish Social Realist
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Jewish Shtetl Klezmer Musicians. humorous...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Sephardic Jew Fez Hat Jewish Shtetl Americana Judaica Lithograph WPA Yiddish Art
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Yenta gossips in the kitchen peeling. hum...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Jewish Shtetl Peddlar Americana Judaica Lithograph WPA Yiddish Social Realist
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Jewish Shtetl Peddler Merchant. humorous ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Jewish Shtetl Machers Americana Judaica Lithograph WPA Yiddish Social Realist
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Jewish Shtetl Peddler Merchant. humorous ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Jewish Shtetl Peddlar Americana Judaica Lithograph WPA Yiddish Social Realist
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Jewish Shtetl Peddler Merchant. humorous ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Jewish Shtetl Peddlar Pushcart Judaica Lithograph WPA Yiddish Social Realist
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Jewish Shtetl Peddler Merchant. humorous ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Rabbi, Cup of Tea, Shtetl Americana Judaica Lithograph WPA Social Realist Artist
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Orthodox Jewish Rabbi having a glass of t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Women, Dishes, Shtetl Americana Judaica Lithograph WPA Social Realist Artist
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Orthodox Jewish Rabbi having a glass of t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Charcoal Drawing "Waiting" Pensive Woman Americana WPA Artist
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
14x11.5 image size , 22.5x17.5 backing size The New-York born artist William Gropper was a painter and cartoonist who, with caricature style, focused on social concerns, and was ac...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Charcoal

"Senator" William Gropper, Social Realism, WPA Political Art, Caricature
By William Gropper
Located in New York, NY
William Gropper Senator Signed lower center Oil on board 16 x 12 1/4 inches ACA Galleries, New York Private Collection, New York Bonhams, American Art Online, August 23, 2023, Lot 3...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Realist William Gropper Art

Materials

Oil, Board

"Unemployed" WPA American Scene Social Realism Mid 20th Century Modern
By William Gropper
Located in New York, NY
"Unemployed" WPA American Scene Social Realism Mid 20th Century Modern William Gropper (1898 - 1977) Unemployed 20 x 16 inches Oil on canvas, 1937 Signed lower right Provenance: E...
Category

1930s American Realist William Gropper Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Horsemen
By William Gropper
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "The Horsemen" 1935, is an original lithograph on paper by noted American artist William Gropper, 1897-1977. It is hand signed in pencil by the artist. The artwor...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Realist William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Liberated Village
By William Gropper
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Liberated Village" c. 1940, is an original lithograph on paper by noted American artist William Gropper, 1897-1977. It is hans signed and titled in pencil by the artist. The artwork (image) size is 12 x 16.5 inches, framed size is 20.25 x 24.25 inches. Custom framed in a black metal frame, with off white matting. It is in excellent condition. An example of this particular artwork is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. About the artist: William Gropper was born in New York City's Lower East Side in 1897. He was the first of six children to parents who earned small wages working in sweatshops. At the age of fourteen, Gropper left school to help support his family. While carrying bolts of cloth for his deliveries, Gropper began to draw on scraps of paper, sidewalks, and walls. A passerby saw some of these drawings and invited Gropper to attend a life-drawing class at the Ferrer School. He studied there for three years from 1912 to 1915, attending classes taught by Robert Henri and George Bellows. From 1915 to 1918 Gropper attended the New York School of Fine and Applied Art part-time on scholarship. Gropper also won a scholarship to the National Academy of Design, but remained as a student for only a short time; the rigid and systematic institution conflicted with Gropper's belief in the personal nature of art. At the New York School of Fine and Applied Art, Gropper earned several prizes. One of these prizes was for his cartoons, which led him to be hired by the New York Tribune in 1917 to sketch for their features. A few years later through freelance work, his cartoons and drawings appeared in other newspapers and magazines, such as The Liberator, The New Masses...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Realist William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

“The Circus Performer”
By William Gropper
Located in Southampton, NY
Original gouache on archival paper of a female circus performer by the American artist, William Gropper. Signed "Gropper" lower right. Condition is go...
Category

1950s Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Gouache, Archival Paper

Wedding Dancer, Shtetl Series
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
As a politically passionate, unconventional figure in the art world, William Gropper tested the limits of expression through his cartoons, murals, and oil paintings. With a preference for theme over aesthetic, Gropper believed that art should reflect the human condition and experience. Visual art became the means by which Gropper communicated his concern for labor and economic issues, making him an ideal representative of Social-Realism. Throughout his life, he would be called a radical (even being subpoenaed by Congress for communism) and would tirelessly create socially relevant art for the public. Born to Harry and Jenny Gropper in 1897, William was raised in New York City's Lower East Side. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Romania and Ukraine, and young William grew up in relative poverty, watching his family struggle to achieve that sought-after American dream. His father, a bright and college-educated man, was unable to find employment that worthy of his intellect. His mother, meanwhile, worked as a seamstress from home. Coupled with the devastating loss of an aunt to the infamous Triangle Factory fire of 1911, significant childhood factors created the foundation that led to Gropper’s exploration of the American experience. Early on, Gropper displayed an extraordinary, natural skill for art. By 1912, he was already studying under the instruction of George Bellows and Robert Henri at the Ferrer School in Greenwich Village. During his time at school, Gropper was also awarded a prestigious scholarship to study at the National Academy of Design. However, he refused to fit into convention and was swiftly expelled from the Academy. After his expulsion, Gropper returned home to help financially by assisting his mother and taking a shop position. However, he didn't abandon art academia and soon presented a portfolio to the New York School of Fine Art which earned him a scholarship for study. Gropper obtained his first significant job as a cartoonist for the New York Tribune in 1917. While working as a staff cartoonist for the Tribune, he also contributed drawings to publications like Vanity Fair, New Masses, The Nation, and Freiheit. His interest in the welfare of the American worker, class inequality, and social injustice was central in his work. After publishing the graphic novel Alley Oop in 1930, Gropper's illustration career extended well into the decade. However, he was never exempt from controversy, and his 1935 Vanity Fair cartoon; prompted anger from the Japanese government. As an involved labor organizer and activist, Gropper continued to bring attention to his radical reputation with visits to the Soviet Union and Poland. However, his concern with European politics and U.S. social causes didn't slow down his artistic career, and by the late 1930s, he had produced significant murals for American cities like Washington D.C. His 1938 mural Construction of a Dam was commissioned for the Department of the Interior and represents the Social-Realism style that depicts experiences of the worker and everyday societal life. Measuring at a staggering 27ft by 87ft, the piece portrays muscular, robust American laborers scaling rocky hillsides, building infrastructure, and operating heavy machinery. The mural feels undeniably American with golden scenery, denim blues, and steely gray colors. Gropper fits perfectly into Social-Realism because the style exhibits an illustrative flair with strong lines and simple, bold hues. The inspiration for Construction of a Dam sprang from his 1937 travels to the poverty-stricken Dust Bowl area. The trip was sponsored by a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and his drawings of the Grand Coulee and Boulder Dams...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Demitasse
By William Gropper
Located in West Hollywood, CA
We are proud to present outstanding original oil on canvas by American artist William Gropper (1897-1977.) William Gropper was an artist and illustrator, known for his exceptional a...
Category

1950s American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Oil

Bathers
By William Gropper
Located in West Hollywood, CA
We are proud to present outstanding original oil on canvas by American artist William Gropper (1897-1977.) William Gropper was an artist and illustrator, known for his exceptional a...
Category

1940s American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Oil

Judaica Painting Bar Mitzvah Boy, Cheder Lessons
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Genre: Judaica Subject: Religious Medium: Watercolor, Ink, Mixed Media Surface: Paper Country: United States Dimensions: 13.75" x 10" Dimensions w/Frame: 19.75" x 15.5 Born to Harry and Jenny Gropper in 1897, William was raised in New York City's Lower East Side. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Romania and Ukraine, and young William grew up in relative poverty, watching his family struggle to achieve that sought-after American dream. His father, a bright and college-educated man, was unable to find employment that worthy of his intellect. His mother, meanwhile, worked as a seamstress from home. Coupled with the devastating loss of an aunt to the infamous Triangle Factory fire of 1911, significant childhood factors created the foundation that led to Gropper’s exploration of the American experience. Early on, Gropper displayed an extraordinary, natural skill for art. By 1912, he was already studying under the instruction of George Bellows and Robert Henri at the Ferrer School in Greenwich Village. During his time at school, Gropper was also awarded a prestigious scholarship to study at the National Academy of Design. However, he refused to fit into convention and was swiftly expelled from the Academy. After his expulsion, Gropper returned home to help financially by assisting his mother and taking a shop position. However, he didn't abandon art academia and soon presented a portfolio to the New York School of Fine Art which earned him a scholarship for study. Gropper obtained his first significant job as a cartoonist for the New York Tribune in 1917. While working as a staff cartoonist for the Tribune, he also contributed drawings to publications like Vanity Fair, New Masses, The Nation, and Freiheit. His interest in the welfare of the American worker...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Watercolor, Gouache

THE NEW BILL
By William Gropper
Located in Portland, ME
Gropper, Will1am (American, 1897-1977). THE NEW BILL. Lithograph, c. 1941. 11 3/4 x 16 inches (image), 14 x 19 inches (sheet).Titled and signed in pencil. In excellent condition.
Category

1940s William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Rhythm in Blues
By William Gropper
Located in London, GB
signed ‘Gropper’ (lower right); with the artist's studio stamp (on the verso)
Category

1940s William Gropper Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Jewish Shtetl Mother-in-law Klezmer Wedding Dance Judaica Lithograph Yiddish WPA
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Jewish Shtetl Hasidic Klezmer Musicians. humorous Yiddish Chassidic art. The New-York born artist William Gropper was a painter and cartoonist who, with caricature style, focused on social concerns, and was actively engaged in support of the organized labor movement throughout his career. This original color lithograph print is done in the iconic style of the artist's oeuvre. Born to Harry and Jenny Gropper in 1897, William was raised in New York City's Lower East Side. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Romania and Ukraine, and young William grew up in relative poverty, watching his family struggle to achieve that sought-after American dream. His father, a bright and college-educated man, was unable to find employment that worthy of his intellect. His mother, meanwhile, worked as a seamstress from home. Coupled with the devastating loss of an aunt to the infamous Triangle Factory fire of 1911, significant childhood factors created the foundation that led to Gropper’s exploration of the American experience. Early on, Gropper displayed an extraordinary, natural skill for art. By 1912, he was already studying under the instruction of George Bellows and Robert Henri at the Ferrer School in Greenwich Village. During his time at school, Gropper was also awarded a prestigious scholarship to study at the National Academy of Design. However, he refused to fit into convention and was swiftly expelled from the Academy. After his expulsion, Gropper returned home to help financially by assisting his mother and taking a shop position. However, he didn't abandon art academia and soon presented a portfolio to the New York School of Fine Art which earned him a scholarship for study. Gropper obtained his first significant job as a cartoonist for the New York Tribune in 1917. While working as a staff cartoonist for the Tribune, he also contributed drawings to publications like Vanity Fair, New Masses, The Nation, and Freiheit. His interest in the welfare of the American worker, class inequality, and social injustice was central in his work. After publishing the graphic novel Alley Oop in 1930, Gropper's illustration career extended well into the decade. However, he was never exempt from controversy, and his 1935 Vanity Fair cartoon; prompted anger from the Japanese government. As an involved labor organizer and Social Realist activist, Gropper continued to bring attention to his radical reputation with visits to the Soviet Union and Poland. However, his concern with European politics and U.S. social causes didn't slow down his artistic career, and by the late 1930s, he had produced significant murals for American cities like Washington D.C. His 1938 mural Construction of a Dam was commissioned for the Department of the Interior and represents the Social-Realism style that depicts experiences of the worker and everyday societal life. Measuring at a staggering 27ft by 87ft, the piece portrays muscular, robust American laborers scaling rocky hillsides, building infrastructure, and operating heavy machinery. The mural feels undeniably American with golden scenery, denim blues, and steely gray colors. Gropper fits perfectly into Social-Realism because the style exhibits an illustrative flair with strong lines and simple, bold hues. The inspiration for Construction of a Dam sprang from his 1937 travels to the poverty-stricken Dust Bowl area. The trip was sponsored by a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and his drawings of the Grand Coulee and Boulder Dams...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Americana, Lawyer in Court, Politician, Gouache Painting WPA Art William Gropper
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
William Gropper Original Gouache on Paper Hand signed lower right 33.5 x 27.5 image 26 x 20.5 The New-York born artist William Gropper was a painter and cartoonist who, with caricature style, focused on social concerns, and was actively engaged in support of the organized labor movement throughout his career. This original watercolor drawing is done in the iconic style of the artist's oeuvre. Born to Harry and Jenny Gropper in 1897, William was raised in New York City's Lower East Side. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Romania and Ukraine, and young William grew up in relative poverty, watching his family struggle to achieve that sought-after American dream. His father, a bright and college-educated man, was unable to find employment that worthy of his intellect. His mother, meanwhile, worked as a seamstress from home. Coupled with the devastating loss of an aunt to the infamous Triangle Factory fire of 1911, significant childhood factors created the foundation that led to Gropper’s exploration of the American experience. Early on, Gropper displayed an extraordinary, natural skill for art. By 1912, he was already studying under the instruction of George Bellows and Robert Henri at the Ferrer School in Greenwich Village. During his time at school, Gropper was also awarded a prestigious scholarship to study at the National Academy of Design. However, he refused to fit into convention and was swiftly expelled from the Academy. After his expulsion, Gropper returned home to help financially by assisting his mother and taking a shop position. However, he didn't abandon art academia and soon presented a portfolio to the New York School of Fine Art which earned him a scholarship for study. Gropper obtained his first significant job as a cartoonist for the New York Tribune in 1917. While working as a staff cartoonist for the Tribune, he also contributed drawings to publications like Vanity Fair, New Masses, The Nation, and Freiheit. His interest in the welfare of the American worker, class inequality, and social injustice was central in his work. After publishing the graphic novel Alley Oop in 1930, Gropper's illustration career extended well into the decade. However, he was never exempt from controversy, and his 1935 Vanity Fair cartoon; prompted anger from the Japanese government. As an involved labor organizer and Social Realist activist, Gropper continued to bring attention to his radical reputation with visits to the Soviet Union and Poland. However, his concern with European politics and U.S. social causes didn't slow down his artistic career, and by the late 1930s, he had produced significant murals for American cities like Washington D.C. His 1938 mural Construction of a Dam was commissioned for the Department of the Interior and represents the Social-Realism style that depicts experiences of the worker and everyday societal life. Measuring at a staggering 27ft by 87ft, the piece portrays muscular, robust American laborers scaling rocky hillsides, building infrastructure, and operating heavy machinery. The mural feels undeniably American with golden scenery, denim blues, and steely gray colors. Gropper fits perfectly into Social-Realism because the style exhibits an illustrative flair with strong lines and simple, bold hues. The inspiration for Construction of a Dam sprang from his 1937 travels to the poverty-stricken Dust Bowl area. The trip was sponsored by a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and his drawings of the Grand Coulee and Boulder Dams...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Gouache

William Gropper, (Choral Group)
By William Gropper
Located in New York, NY
An early serigraph (screen print) by William Gropper. There's a harpist to provide the music and a choir master conducting. The seated members of the group are individually drawn as ...
Category

1930s Ashcan School William Gropper Art

Materials

Screen

Americana Farmer and Wife, Gouache Painting WPA Art William Gropper Woodchopper
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
William Gropper Original Gouache on Paper depicting man carrying an axe and woman carrying basket walking together. Hand signed lower right Fra...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Gouache

The Whip - Social Realism
By William Gropper
Located in Miami, FL
Work is marked on reverse "Rhythm" and "The Whip." on verso - We are not sure the exact meaning of this work. Gropper was a social realist and a radical of his time and a commenta...
Category

1960s Conceptual William Gropper Art

Materials

Oil, Masonite

A Man and his Wine, Wax Crayon Drawing by William Gropper
By William Gropper
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: William Gropper, American (1897 - 1977) Title: A Man and His Wine Year: Circa 1950 Medium: Crayon Drawing on Paper, signed in pencil l.l. Size: 11 x 9 in. (27.94 x 22.86 cm) ...
Category

1950s American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Wax Crayon

Related Items
Pablo Picasso - The Painter - Original Lithograph
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Pablo Picasso - Original Lithograph Title: Painter and his Model From the illustrated book "Regards sur Paris" (Paris: André Sauret, 1962) Edition of 180 Individual prints were not s...
Category

1960s Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

(after) Pablo Picasso - Flying Dove with a Rainbow - Lithograph
By (after) Pablo Picasso
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
(after) Pablo Picasso - Flying Dove with a Rainbow - Lithograph 1952 Dimensions: 28 x 38 cm Signed and dated in the plate Numbered in pencil Edition : /10...
Category

1950s Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Pablo Picasso - The Ballet Dancer - Original Lithograph
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Collonge Bellerive, Geneve, CH
Pablo Picasso - Original Lithograph Title: The Ballet Dancer Dimensions: 32 x 24 cm 1954 Reference: Bloch 767 Frontispiece for the book "Le Ballet" (Paris: Editions Hachet, 1954) by...
Category

1950s Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Golf Bags, Caddy with Golf Bag on His Back
By Frederick Conway
Located in Missouri, MO
Framed Size: approx 17 3/4 x 20 3/4 inches Fred Conway (1900-1973) "Golf Bags, Caddy with Golf Bag on His Back" Pen/Ink/Watercolor on Paper Site Size: approx. 10 x 13 inches Framed Size: approx. 17 3/4 x 20 3/4 inches A member of the faculty of the Washington University Art School from 1929 to 1970, Frederick Conway...
Category

1960s American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor, Pen

Burlesque Girl.
Located in Storrs, CT
Lloyd William Wulff. Burlesque Girl. 1938. Lithograph. 10 1/4 x 11 3/8 (sheet 12 1/2 x 15 1/8). Edition 28, #16. Federal Arts Project blind stamp. Printed on cream wove paper with fu...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Burlesque Girl.
Burlesque Girl.
H 24 in W 20 in D 0.5 in
African American Woman artist Mailou Jones Cezannian Cote d'Azur cubist village
Located in Norwich, GB
If you are interested in African American Art and in Women in the Arts, I will certainly not need to introduce Lois Mailou Jones (1905-1988). Often associated with the Harlem Renaiss...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Watercolor, Gouache, Handmade Paper

Original 'I Am Telling You vintage Uncle Sam poster War Savings Stamps
By James Montgomery Flagg
Located in Spokane, WA
Original I Am Telling You, On June 28th, I expect you to enlist vintage poster. James Montgomery Flagg, WW1 original vintage World War 1 poster...
Category

1910s American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Time After Time.
By Ann Chernow
Located in Storrs, CT
Lithograph with watercolor. 22 3/8 x 30 5/8. Edition 56 (plus 5 artist's proofs). A bright impression printed on the full sheet of Arches paper. Signed and numbered 4/56 in pencil. ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Watercolor, Color, Lithograph

Time After Time.
H 30 in W 38 in D 2 in
Cats Watching a Witch on a Broomstick - Vintage Halloween Illustration in Ink
By Irene Pattinson
Located in Soquel, CA
Cats Watching a Witch on a Broomstick - Vintage Halloween Illustration in Ink Halloween scene with cats and a witch in India ink pen by Irene Pattinson (American, 1909-1999). A blac...
Category

1950s American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Pen, India Ink

Nude, 1959, Ink and Watercolor, Figure, Mid-Century, American
By Knox Martin
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Born in Barranquilla, Colombia in 1923, Knox Martin moved with his family to New York City in 1927. He attended The Art Students League of New York from 1946 to 1950 under the GI Bil...
Category

20th Century American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor

Whimsical Fishing Illustration Cartoon 1938 Mt Tremblant Ski Lodge William Steig
By William Steig (b.1907)
Located in Surfside, FL
Lighthearted Illustration of Outdoor Pursuits This one of a fisherman signed "W. Steig" Provenance: from Mrs. Joseph B. Ryan, Commissioned by Joe Ryan for the bar at his ski resort, Mount Tremblant Lodge, in 1938. Mont Tremblant, P.Q., Canada Watercolor and ink on illustration board, sights sizes 8 1/2 x 16 1/2 in., framed. In 1938 Joe Ryan, described as a millionaire from Philadelphia, bushwhacked his way to the summit of Mont Tremblant and was inspired to create a world class ski resort at the site. In 1939 he opened the Mont Tremblant Lodge, which remains part of the Pedestrian Village today. This original illustration is on Whatman Illustration board. the board measures 14 X 22 inches. label from McClees Galleries, Philadelphia, on the frame backing paper. William Steig, 1907 – 2003 was an American cartoonist, sculptor, and, in his later life, an illustrator and writer of children's books. Best known for the picture books Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Abel's Island, and Doctor De Soto, he was also the creator of Shrek!, which inspired the film series of the same name. He was the U.S. nominee for both of the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Awards, as a children's book illustrator in 1982 and a writer in 1988. Steig was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1907, and grew up in the Bronx. His parents were Polish-Jewish immigrants from Austria, both socialists. His father, Joseph Steig, was a house painter, and his mother, Laura Ebel Steig, was a seamstress who encouraged his artistic leanings. As a child, he dabbled in painting and was an avid reader of literature. Among other works, he was said to have been especially fascinated by Pinocchio.He graduated from Townsend Harris High School at 15 but never completed college, though he attended three, spending two years at City College of New York, three years at the National Academy of Design and a mere five days at the Yale School of Fine Arts before dropping out of each. Hailed as the "King of Cartoons" Steig began drawing illustrations and cartoons for The New Yorker in 1930, producing more than 2,600 drawings and 117 covers for the magazine. Steig, later, when he was 61, began writing children's books. In 1968, he wrote his first children's book. He excelled here as well, and his third book, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble (1969), won the Caldecott Medal. He went on to write more than 30 children's books, including the Doctor DeSoto series, and he continued to write into his nineties. Among his other well-known works, the picture book Shrek! (1990) formed the basis for the DreamWorks Animation film Shrek (2001). After the release of Shrek 2 in 2004, Steig became the first sole-creator of an animated movie franchise that went on to generate over $1 billion from theatrical and ancillary markets after only one sequel. Along with Maurice Sendak, Saul Steinberg, Ludwig Bemelmans and Laurent de Brunhofff his is one of those rare cartoonist whose works form part of our collective cultural heritage. In 1984, Steig's film adaptation of Doctor DeSoto directed by Michael Sporn was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. As one of the most admired cartoonists of all time, Steig spent seven decades drawing for the New Yorker magazine. He touched generations of readers with his tongue–in–cheek pen–and–ink drawings, which often expressed states of mind like shame, embarrassment or anger. Later in life, Steig turned to children's books, working as both a writer and illustrator. Steig's children's books were also wildly popular because of the crazy, complicated language he used—words like lunatic, palsied, sequestration, and cleave. Kids love the sound of those words even if they do not quite understand the meaning. Steig's descriptions were also clever. He once described a beached whale as "breaded with sand." Throughout the course of his career, Steig compiled his cartoons and drawings into books. Some of them were published first in the New Yorker. Others were deemed too dark to be printed there. Most of these collections centered on the cold, dark psychoanalytical truth about relationships. They featured husbands and wives fighting and parents snapping at their kids. His first adult book, Man About Town, was published in 1932, followed by About People, published in 1939, which focused on social outsiders. Sick of Each Other, published in 2000, included a drawing depicting a wife holding her husband at gunpoint, saying, "Say you adore me." According to the Los Angeles Times, fellow New Yorker artist...
Category

1930s American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

India Ink, Watercolor, Illustration Board

Alfred Bendiner, (Baseball Hitter and Pitcher -- The Philadelphia Phillies?)
By Alfred Bendiner
Located in New York, NY
Of course it's possible that these baseball players aren't from a Philadelphia team, but I doubt it. There was so much drama and intrigue with both the Philadelphia Phillies and the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

India Ink, Watercolor

Previously Available Items
Danse Macabre, Anti War Abstract Painting Charcoal William Gropper WPA Artist
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
William Gropper (American, 1897-1977), "War" ink, watercolor and charcoal on paper, Hand signed lower right, artist studio label with title en verso 19 1/2 in. x 25 1/8 in., unframed. Provenance: Grosvenor Gallery, London Titled "War" this dance macabre is a large, powerful anti war...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Watercolor, Charcoal, Ink

"Carnival in New York, " William Gropper, City Street Scene Fair with Figures
By William Gropper
Located in New York, NY
William Gropper Carnival in New York, 1964 Signed and dated lower right Oil on canvas 27 x 41 inches Provenance: Private Collection, Haverstraw, New York William Gropper was a painter and political cartoonist who is best remembered for his striking social commentary. He was born in 1897 on the Lower East Side in New York City to a large, poor immigrant family. Due to the family's financial difficulties, Gropper was forced to leave school at a very young age and work in a garment sweatshop with his mother and siblings. Several years later, he enrolled in art classes at the socially progressive Ferrer School where he received instruction from noted Ashcan artists Robert Henri and George Bellows. Gropper later recalled the influence of these men saying, "Right then, I began to realize that you don't paint with color—you paint with conviction, freedom, love and heartaches, with what you have." Following his time at the Ferrer School, Gropper continued his education at the Chase School, later known as Parson's School of Design. After graduation, Gropper briefly illustrated for the New York Tribune, during which time he began contributing to socialist publications, such as The New Masses...
Category

1960s American Realist William Gropper Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Doomsday Rhapsody" Contemporary Social Realism Mid 20th Century Political Large
By William Gropper
Located in New York, NY
"Doomsday Rhapsody" Contemporary Social Realism Mid 20th Century Political Large. 42 x 52 inches. Signed lower right Provenance: Estate of the artist. BIO William Gropper (1897- 19...
Category

1970s Contemporary William Gropper Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

WPA Social Realism American Scene Political Cartoon Depression Era Mid-Century
By William Gropper
Located in New York, NY
WPA Social Realism American Scene Political Cartoon Depression Era Mid-Century. Signed lower left. The drawing is unframed. Provenance: The estate o...
Category

1930s American Realist William Gropper Art

Materials

Paper, Ink

Job Hunters WPA Depression Era Mid 20th Century American Scene Social Realism
By William Gropper
Located in New York, NY
Job Hunters WPA Depression Era Mid 20th Century American Scene Social Realism. Signed lower left. Unframed. 12 1/2 x 9 1.2 inches. c. 1925/26 This drawing is published in the Willia...
Category

1930s American Realist William Gropper Art

Materials

Paper, Ink

Jewish Rabbi Americana Judaica Watercolor, Ink Painting WPA Art William Gropper
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Size includes frame. sight size is 19 X 14 inches. Provenance: from the collection of legendary American portrait photographer Marvin Lazarus. Old Lower East Side of New York Orthod...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Gouache

THE SHTETL
By William Gropper
Located in Portland, ME
Gropper, William. THE SHTETL. Suite of 24 color lithographs, 1970. Portfolio with title page, justification page and 24 color lithographs each signed in pencil and inscribed "Artist'...
Category

1970s William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

THE SHTETL
THE SHTETL
H 15 in W 12 in D 0.5 in
“Cabaret Dancer”
By William Gropper
Located in Southampton, NY
Oil on paper painting of a can-can dancer by William Gropper. Signed lower left. Condition: Very good. Titled verso and signed verso. Beautifully matted and framed. Framed under ...
Category

1930s Post-Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Paper, Oil

“Cabaret Dancer”
By William Gropper
Located in Southampton, NY
Oil on paper painting of a can-can dancer by William Gropper. Signed lower left. Condition: Very good. Titled verso and signed verso. Beautifully matted and framed. Framed under ...
Category

1930s Post-Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Paper, Oil

Jewish Shtetl Hasidic Wedding Dance Judaica Lithograph Yiddish Social Realism
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Jewish Shtetl Hasidic Klezmer Musicians. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Jewish Shtetl Mother-in-law Klezmer Wedding Dance Judaica Lithograph Yiddish WPA
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Jewish Shtetl Hasidic Klezmer Musicians. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

Jewish Shtetl Klezmer Wedding Tanz Judaica Lithograph WPA Yiddish Social Realist
By William Gropper
Located in Surfside, FL
Hand signed in pencil and numbered with Roman numerals 8/24. A very small edition. Old Lower East Side of New York or East European Shtetl. Jewish Shtetl Hasidic Klezmer Musicians. humorous Yiddish Chassidic art. The New-York born artist William Gropper was a painter and cartoonist who, with caricature style, focused on social concerns, and was actively engaged in support of the organized labor movement throughout his career. This original color lithograph print is done in the iconic style of the artist's oeuvre. Born to Harry and Jenny Gropper in 1897, William was raised in New York City's Lower East Side. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Romania and Ukraine, and young William grew up in relative poverty, watching his family struggle to achieve that sought-after American dream. His father, a bright and college-educated man, was unable to find employment that worthy of his intellect. His mother, meanwhile, worked as a seamstress from home. Coupled with the devastating loss of an aunt to the infamous Triangle Factory fire of 1911, significant childhood factors created the foundation that led to Gropper’s exploration of the American experience. Early on, Gropper displayed an extraordinary, natural skill for art. By 1912, he was already studying under the instruction of George Bellows and Robert Henri at the Ferrer School in Greenwich Village. During his time at school, Gropper was also awarded a prestigious scholarship to study at the National Academy of Design. However, he refused to fit into convention and was swiftly expelled from the Academy. After his expulsion, Gropper returned home to help financially by assisting his mother and taking a shop position. However, he didn't abandon art academia and soon presented a portfolio to the New York School of Fine Art which earned him a scholarship for study. Gropper obtained his first significant job as a cartoonist for the New York Tribune in 1917. While working as a staff cartoonist for the Tribune, he also contributed drawings to publications like Vanity Fair, New Masses, The Nation, and Freiheit. His interest in the welfare of the American worker, class inequality, and social injustice was central in his work. After publishing the graphic novel Alley Oop in 1930, Gropper's illustration career extended well into the decade. However, he was never exempt from controversy, and his 1935 Vanity Fair cartoon; prompted anger from the Japanese government. As an involved labor organizer and Social Realist activist, Gropper continued to bring attention to his radical reputation with visits to the Soviet Union and Poland. However, his concern with European politics and U.S. social causes didn't slow down his artistic career, and by the late 1930s, he had produced significant murals for American cities like Washington D.C. His 1938 mural Construction of a Dam was commissioned for the Department of the Interior and represents the Social-Realism style that depicts experiences of the worker and everyday societal life. Measuring at a staggering 27ft by 87ft, the piece portrays muscular, robust American laborers scaling rocky hillsides, building infrastructure, and operating heavy machinery. The mural feels undeniably American with golden scenery, denim blues, and steely gray colors. Gropper fits perfectly into Social-Realism because the style exhibits an illustrative flair with strong lines and simple, bold hues. The inspiration for Construction of a Dam sprang from his 1937 travels to the poverty-stricken Dust Bowl area. The trip was sponsored by a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and his drawings of the Grand Coulee and Boulder Dams...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Art

Materials

Lithograph

William Gropper art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic William Gropper art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of yellow and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by William Gropper in lithograph, paint, oil paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large William Gropper art, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Byron Browne, David Klein, and Thomas Hart Benton. William Gropper art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $400 and tops out at $172,008, while the average work can sell for $800.

Artists Similar to William Gropper

Recently Viewed

View All