The thoughtful girl on the sofa, WPA American Modernism Realism 1920 drawing
View Similar Items
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5
Guy Pène Du BoisThe thoughtful girl on the sofa, WPA American Modernism Realism 1920 drawing1920
1920
About the Item
- Creator:Guy Pène Du Bois (1884-1958, American)
- Creation Year:1920
- Dimensions:Height: 12.01 in (30.5 cm)Width: 9.26 in (23.5 cm)Depth: 0.4 in (1 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Some toning to paper, not examined out of the frame. Frame in fair condition, with some damage to the top moulding.
- Gallery Location:Norwich, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU99135668392
Guy Pène Du Bois
Pène du Bois descended from French immigrants who settled in Louisiana in 1738 and was raised in a Creole household. He was born in 1984 in Brooklyn, NY and first studied with William Merritt Chase at the New York School of Art and later continued his training with Robert Henri. Pène du Bois was greatly impressed with Henri's credo that "real life" was subject matter for art and throughout his life a realist philosophy informed his art as well as his parallel career, art criticism. In 1905, Pène du Bois made his first visit to Paris where he painted scenes of fashionable people in cafes rendered in the dark tonalities and impasto associated with the Ashcan School. By 1920, he had achieved his mature style, which was characterized by stylized, rounded, almost sculptural figures painted with invisible brushstrokes. The subjects of his paintings were often members of society whom he gently satirized. In 1924, Pène du Bois and his wife, Floy, left for France where they would remain until 1930. Returning to America showcases pictures the artist produced after this very productive period abroad. After five years of living in France, Pène du Bois was able to observe American life with fresh eyes. His work becomes more psychologically intense and less satirical. In Girl at Table a slender, blond is shown gazing at a small statue that she holds at arm's distance. The meaning is elusive, but a powerful sense of longing is evoked. Similarly, paintings such as Dramatic Moment and Jane are taut with unresolved dialogue. Both pictures depict mysterious interiors in which a lone woman anxiously awaits the denouement of a suspenseful scene. Other pictures, for example, Chess Tables, Washington Square and Bar, New Orleans, recall Pene du Bois's Ashcan origins in their depiction of urban entertainment. During this period, landscape becomes an important subject for Pène du Bois. Girl Sketching and Girl in Deck Chair both situate the female subject in bucolic outdoor settings. Deserted Garden and Road under Hurricane Tree are pure landscapes. A lesser known aspect of Pène du Bois's career is his involvement with the WPA projects. In 1937 Pène du Bois received a WPA mural commission to depict John Jay at His Home for the post office in Rye, N.Y. John Jay Study, which features Chief Justice John Jay's homestead, is a study for this series of still extant murals. In the 1950s, Pène du Bois's declining health substantially limited the number of pictures produced.
About the Seller
5.0
Gold Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are highly rated and consistently exceed customer expectations.
1stDibs seller since 2018
73 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 2 hours
More From This SellerView All
- Portrait of a Gentleman in a Redingote by student od Jean Louis David drawingLocated in Norwich, GBAn exceptional ink, wash and graphite portrait of a gentleman by Henri-Joseph Hesse, dating from circa 1820, the time of the Bourbon restoration in France. It depicts a dashing figur...Category
Early 19th Century French School Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsInk, Paper, Graphite
- Young man in a toga elegant man Latin American hyperrealist Hockney styleBy Claudio BravoLocated in Norwich, GBSuperb original drawing in coloured conté pencils, heightened with white on oatmeal coloured vergé paper by Claudio Bravo. The work was created during the artist's Moroccan period, a...Category
1970s Modern Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsLaid Paper, Conté, Color Pencil
- French 19th Century Romantic Period 1830s Paris Society Beauty PortraitBy Adele GrassetLocated in Norwich, GBA astounding portrait of a society beauty by Adele Grasset (active ca 1830-1850). With an open face and and lightly smiling lips, she is wearing a gown typical of the romantic period. Drawn in graphite and heightened with white, the drawing is dated 1836 As often with woman artists of the 18th and 19th century, there is little biographical information available on Adèle Grasset. We do know however, that she had studied with the highly prominent artist François Gérard (1770-1837) , known also as the Baron Gérard...Category
1830s Academic Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Charcoal, Gouache
- The Hypochondriac: French 19th Century Theatre Comedy drawingBy Paul Gavarni (Guillaume Sulpice Chevalier)Located in Norwich, GBA magnificent and sensitively treated line drawing in coloured ink, heightened with white. It depicts Argan, the hypochondriac from Molière's play of the same name. Dating from circa...Category
Mid-19th Century French School Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsInk, Paper, Gouache
- Woman in thought and Child: the page boy intriguing 19th Century Master drawingBy Gustave Jean JacquetLocated in Norwich, GBA virtuoso charcoal sketch by the Frech 19th Century master Gustave Jean Jacquet (1846-1904). It depicts a thoughtful woman (or woman in thought?) with her face resting on her hand...Category
Late 19th Century French School Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsCharcoal, Laid Paper
- French 19th Century Romantic Period 1830s Parisian Lady Portrait Madame SeguinBy Adele GrassetLocated in Norwich, GBA stunning portrait of a Parisian beauty from the romantic period by Adele Grasset (active ca 1830-1850). With her intelligent eyes and determined look, doesn't this lady bear great resemblance to Chopin's paramour George Sand? The sitter is Jeanne Marie Vidal, wife of Claude Auguste Seguin, from a prominent family in Avignon, as the family tree attached to the back for the frame indicates. Research in old annals has also revealed that Madame Seguin was a modern and independent lady: she worked in lady's fashion in Paris, and patented wrapping mechanism that protected lady's hats during their transport! As often with woman artists of the 18th and 19th century, there is little biographical information available on the artist, Adèle Grasset. We do know however, that she had studied with the highly prominent artist François Gérard (1770-1837) , known also as the Baron Gérard...Category
1830s Academic Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsCharcoal, Paper
You May Also Like
- Mid Century Seated Nude Figure, Female Figure Study WatercolorBy Joseph YeagerLocated in Soquel, CAGraceful depiction of seated nude female figure by Joseph Yeager (American, 20th Century). Unsigned, but was acquired with a collection of Joseph Yeager works directly from the estate. This piece is on heavy bond paper with ragged edges. No frame. Joseph "Joe" Yeager (American, 20th Century) was raised in Cleveland Ohio, where he went to art school at night and started his art career at 19. He was a commercial artist for the Cleveland Press...Category
Mid-20th Century American Realist Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPencil, Paper, Watercolor
$1,320 Sale Price20% Off - Man looking into WindowBy Everett ShinnLocated in Miami, FLOriginal Magazine Illustration for a magazine like Harper's, Vanity Fair, Life, Look, and Judge Shinn was an American realist painter and member of the Ashcan School. He also exhibited with the short-lived group known as "The Eight," Work is framed in an attractive gilt frame Morris Weiss collection...Category
1910s American Realist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsAcrylic Polymer, Gouache, Pencil, Watercolor
- Country LifeBy Stuart DavisLocated in Miami, FLEarly work when Stuart Davis was an illustrator. Christie's, New York Catalogue RaisonnéCategory
1920s American Realist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsIndia Ink, Pencil
- Self PortraitLocated in London, GBPen and ink, ink wash and pencil on paper, signed and dated (lower right), 38cm x 29cm (65cm x 55cm framed). This penetrating and wonderfully executed self-portrait, is all the mor...Category
1910s Old Masters Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Carbon Pencil, Ink
- "The Lowest Pair" - Live Action Figurative Drawing of Musicians in PencilBy Brian RoundsLocated in Soquel, CADynamic live drawing of two musicians by Santa Cruz artist Brian Rounds (b. 1968). Drawn at a house concert in Santa Cruz, California, this piece depicts a musical duo called "The Lo...Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Carbon Pencil
- "Rev. Gary Davis" - Figurative Watercolor of a Guitar Player on PaperBy Brian RoundsLocated in Soquel, CAColorful watercolor of Reverend Gary Davis (aka "Blind Gary Davis") by Santa Cruz artist Brian Rounds (b. 1968). Set against a bright orange background, Dav...Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsPaper, Carbon Pencil
$420 Sale Price20% Off