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William Gropper
William Gropper Important New York Artist and Caricaturist Painting, "Mug-Wump"

circa 1930s

About the Item

Politically charged oil on canvas by Depression Era New York artist William Gropper. Painting measures: 20" H x 16" W. Frame measures: 24" H x 20" W. Signed lower right and in excellent condition. Created circa 1930s. Titled on the verso “Mug-Wump”. Provenance: Two Gallery Labels seen on the verso; Heritage Gallery, L.A. & Rowe Gallery, San Francisco. A mugwump was known as a person who remained independent (as in politics), one who remained undecided or neutral, not taking a definitive side. One whose “mug” was on one side of the fence and whose “wump” was on the other, so to speak. New-York born artist William Gropper (1897-1977) was a painter and cartoonist who, with caricature style, focused on social concerns. 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. Subjects included industrial strikes, especially in the coal mining and steel-production centers. He 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. William Gropper was a student of Robert Henri and George Bellows at the Ferrer School from 1912 to 1915.
  • Creator:
    William Gropper (1897 - 1977, American)
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1930s
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 24 in (60.96 cm)Width: 20 in (50.8 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2749214653292

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