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Joseph Solman Art

American, 1909-1908
Brought to America from Russia as a child in 1912, Joseph Solman was a prodigious draftsman and knew, in his earliest teens, that he would be an artist. He went straight from high school to the National Academy of Design, though he says he learned more by sketching in the subway on the way back from school late at night: people “pose perfectly when they’re asleep.” In 1929, Solman saw the inaugural show at the Museum of Modern Art featuring Seurat, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Cezanne. It changed his life – and his art. Joseph Solman was, with Mark Rothko, the unofficial co-leader of The Ten, a group of expressionist painters who exhibited as the “Whitney Dissenters” at the Mercury Galleries in New York in 1938. A champion of modernism, Solman was elected an editor of Art Front Magazine when its other editors, art historian Meyer Shapiro and critic Harold Rosenberg, were still partial to Social Realism In 1964, The Times, discussing his well-known subway gouaches (done while commuting to his some-time job as a racetrack pari-mutuel clerk), called him a “Pari-Mutuel Picasso.” In 1985, on the occasion of a 50-year retrospective, The Washington Post wrote: “It appears to have dawned, at last, on many collectors that this is art that has already stood the acid test of time.” We had the pleasure of the meeting the artist a few times at his home which was over the original Second Avenue Deli in the East Village.
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Artist: Joseph Solman
"Figure Study" Joseph Solman, Blue and Sepia, Pastel Colors Seated Study
"Figure Study" Joseph Solman, Blue and Sepia, Pastel Colors Seated Study

"Figure Study" Joseph Solman, Blue and Sepia, Pastel Colors Seated Study

By Joseph Solman

Located in New York, NY

Joseph Solman Figure Study, circa 1959-60 Signed with initials lower left Gouache on Racing Form newspaper Sight 9 x 7 inches Provenance Private Collection, Montecito, California Pr...

Category

1950s Modern Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Newsprint

The Red Beard

The Red Beard

By Joseph Solman

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Joseph Solman, American (1909 - 2008) Title: The Red Beard Medium: Oil on Canvas, signed Size: 20.25 x 12 inches Frame Size: 30 x 22 inches

Category

1960s Color-Field Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Oil

Marian Begg, Expressionist Oil on Masonite Portrait Painting by Joseph Solman
Marian Begg, Expressionist Oil on Masonite Portrait Painting by Joseph Solman

Marian Begg, Expressionist Oil on Masonite Portrait Painting by Joseph Solman

By Joseph Solman

Located in Long Island City, NY

In the mid-1960s Joseph Solman (American, 1909 - 2008) was commissioned to create portraits of the Begg family. This is a portrait of Marian Begg, the mother in the mid-century nuclear family...

Category

1960s Expressionist Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Oil, Masonite

NYC Street & Interior Scene 1940’s American Scene Modern WPA Still Life Realism
NYC Street & Interior Scene 1940’s American Scene Modern WPA Still Life Realism

NYC Street & Interior Scene 1940’s American Scene Modern WPA Still Life Realism

By Joseph Solman

Located in New York, NY

Joseph Solman 1940’s Oil on Masonite signed JS lower left 20x12 inches image size 26x18 inches with frame Good condition Private collection NYC Painting depicts a fantastic NYC Bri...

Category

1930s American Realist Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic

Old Fire Wagon, Monotype
Old Fire Wagon, Monotype

Old Fire Wagon, Monotype

By Joseph Solman

Located in Surfside, FL

Joseph Solman (1909-2008), a New York expressionist painter, hovered near the leading edge of the avant garde through most of his career, yet his works never departed entirely from r...

Category

20th Century Modern Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Monotype

Interior Mid 20th Century American Scene Modern WPA Still Life Realism
Interior Mid 20th Century American Scene Modern WPA Still Life Realism

Interior Mid 20th Century American Scene Modern WPA Still Life Realism

By Joseph Solman

Located in New York, NY

Joseph Solman 1930’s Oil on Masonite 19x25 inches image size 25x31 inches with frame overall good condition Signed mid lower left JS Private Collection New York Image depicts a WPA ...

Category

1930s American Realist Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic

Portrait of a Seated Woman
Portrait of a Seated Woman

Portrait of a Seated Woman

By Joseph Solman

Located in Wiscasett, ME

Oil on canvas, signed with initials center left. Measures 32" x 23.5" including the frame. Provenance: ACA Galleries, NYC Bradbury Art and Antiques, Wiscasset, Maine Brought to...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Oil

Oil Painting Interior Scene Chair w Chinese Rug Joseph Solman American Art WPA
Oil Painting Interior Scene Chair w Chinese Rug Joseph Solman American Art WPA

Oil Painting Interior Scene Chair w Chinese Rug Joseph Solman American Art WPA

By Joseph Solman

Located in Surfside, FL

Joseph Solman (1909-2008), Chair with Chinese Rug, oil paint on masonite, initialed JS on recto, titled and signed "J.S." verso, Dimensions 14" x 10" Framed to 21 X 17 Provenance...

Category

20th Century Modern Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Oil, Board

American Abstract Color Monotype Painting Tar Cart #2 Joseph Solman WPA Artist
American Abstract Color Monotype Painting Tar Cart #2 Joseph Solman WPA Artist

American Abstract Color Monotype Painting Tar Cart #2 Joseph Solman WPA Artist

By Joseph Solman

Located in Surfside, FL

"Tar Cart #2" by Joseph Solman (American, 1909-2008) Hand signed recto Joseph Solman (January 25, 1909 – April 16, 2008) was a Jewish American painter, a founder of The Ten, a group...

Category

20th Century American Modern Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Monotype

Monhegan Cove, Impressionist Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman 1937
Monhegan Cove, Impressionist Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman 1937

Monhegan Cove, Impressionist Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman 1937

By Joseph Solman

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Joseph Solman, American (1909 - ) Title: Monhegan Cove Year: 1937 Medium: Gouache on black paper, signed and dated l.c. Size: 8.5 x 12 inches Frame Size: 18 x 22 inches

Category

1930s Color-Field Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Gouache

Provincetown Dock, Modern Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman 1962
Provincetown Dock, Modern Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman 1962

Provincetown Dock, Modern Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman 1962

By Joseph Solman

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Joseph Solman, American (1909 - ) Title: Provincetown Dock Year: 1962 Medium: Gouache on black paper, signed and dated l.c. Size: 9 x 11.5 inches Frame Size: 19 x 22 inches

Category

1960s Color-Field Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Gouache

"Garage in Provincetown" Joseph Solman, Urban Landscape by Expressionist Artist
"Garage in Provincetown" Joseph Solman, Urban Landscape by Expressionist Artist

"Garage in Provincetown" Joseph Solman, Urban Landscape by Expressionist Artist

By Joseph Solman

Located in New York, NY

Joseph Solman Garage in Provincetown Signed with initials lower right Graphite on paper 8 7/8 x 11 7/8 inches Joseph Solman was born in 1909 in Vitebsk, in what is now Belarus, the...

Category

20th Century Abstract Expressionist Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Paper, Graphite

"Rail Yard" Urban Industrial WPA American Scene Drawing NYC Mid-Century
"Rail Yard" Urban Industrial WPA American Scene Drawing NYC Mid-Century

"Rail Yard" Urban Industrial WPA American Scene Drawing NYC Mid-Century

By Joseph Solman

Located in New York, NY

"Rail Yard" Urban Industrial WPA American Scene Drawing NYC Mid-Century. Initialed "JS" upper right Solman was a pivotal figure in the development of 20th century American art. He ...

Category

1930s American Modern Joseph Solman Art

Materials

Paper, Gouache

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Previously Available Items
Old Fire Wagon, Monotype
Old Fire Wagon, Monotype

Joseph SolmanOld Fire Wagon, Monotype

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H 16.25 in W 18.25 in

Old Fire Wagon, Monotype

By Joseph Solman

Located in Surfside, FL

Joseph Solman (1909-2008), a New York expressionist painter, hovered near the leading edge of the avant garde through most of his career, yet his works never departed entirely from r...

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20th Century Modern Joseph Solman Art

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Joseph Solman Lithograph New York City Subway Great Depression WPA Artist
Joseph Solman Lithograph New York City Subway Great Depression WPA Artist

Joseph Solman Lithograph New York City Subway Great Depression WPA Artist

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A great New york City street scene in a modernist realist style. This is done on a racing form background. it is hand signed from the edition of 100. It depicts a rider on the subway...

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Barbara Begg, Expressionist Portrait by Joseph Solman
Barbara Begg, Expressionist Portrait by Joseph Solman

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In the mid-1960s Joseph Solman (American, 1909 - 2008) was commissioned to create portraits of the Begg family. This is a portrait of Barbara Begg, the young daughter in the mid-century nuclear family...

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"Call Me Bill, " New York City Subway Rider on Racing Form
"Call Me Bill, " New York City Subway Rider on Racing Form

"Call Me Bill, " New York City Subway Rider on Racing Form

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Located in New York, NY

Joseph Solman (1909 - 2008) Call Me Bill Gouache, watercolor, and pencil on racing form 15 1/4 x 10 inches Initialed lower right: J. S. Joseph Solman was a Jewish-American painter a...

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Man with Mustache on Subway, Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman
Man with Mustache on Subway, Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman

Man with Mustache on Subway, Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman

By Joseph Solman

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Joseph Solman, American (1909 - 2008) Title: Man with Mustache Year: circa 1965 Medium: Gouache on Racing Form, Signed 'JS' l.l. Size: 14 in. x 8 in. (35.56 cm x 20.32 cm) Fr...

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1960s Color-Field Joseph Solman Art

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Gouache

Reading Lady on Subway, Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman
Reading Lady on Subway, Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman

Reading Lady on Subway, Gouache Painting by Joseph Solman

By Joseph Solman

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Joseph Solman, American (1909 - 2008) Title: Reading Lady on Subway Year: circa 1960 Medium: Gouache on Racing Form, signed 'JS' Size: 15 in. x 10 in. (38.1 cm x 25.4 cm) Fra...

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1960s Color-Field Joseph Solman Art

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Gouache

1936 Woodblock Print Venus of 23rd St. Skid Row Woodcut NYC Great Depression WPA
1936 Woodblock Print Venus of 23rd St. Skid Row Woodcut NYC Great Depression WPA

1936 Woodblock Print Venus of 23rd St. Skid Row Woodcut NYC Great Depression WPA

By Joseph Solman

Located in Surfside, FL

A great New york City street scene in a modernist realist style. done in the the great depression period. Mat is 17.5x14, sheet measures 13x10 image is 10x4.75 Joseph Solman (Janua...

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Old Fire Wagon, Monotype
Old Fire Wagon, Monotype

Joseph SolmanOld Fire Wagon, Monotype

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H 16.25 in W 18.25 in

Old Fire Wagon, Monotype

By Joseph Solman

Located in Surfside, FL

Joseph Solman (1909-2008), a New York expressionist painter, hovered near the leading edge of the avant garde through most of his career, yet his works never departed entirely from r...

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20th Century Modern Joseph Solman Art

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Monotype

Modernist Beach Scene, 1976 Monotype
Modernist Beach Scene, 1976 Monotype

Modernist Beach Scene, 1976 Monotype

By Joseph Solman

Located in Surfside, FL

This Scene by Joseph Solman is a monotype that was created by inking an entire surface and then, using brushes or rags, removing ink to create a subtractive image.The inks used may b...

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20th Century Modern Joseph Solman Art

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VENUS OF 23RD STREET
VENUS OF 23RD STREET

Joseph SolmanVENUS OF 23RD STREET, 1936

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H 16 in W 12 in D 2 in

VENUS OF 23RD STREET

By Joseph Solman

Located in Portland, ME

Solman, Joseph. VENUS OF 23RD STREET. Linocut, 1936. Artist's Proof (edition size, if any, not known). Inscribed "A.P., dated and signed in pencil. 9 1/2 x 5 inches, 243 x 128 mm....

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Joseph Solman Art

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Linocut

Reading Lady

Joseph SolmanReading Lady

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H 22 in W 18.5 in

Reading Lady

By Joseph Solman

Located in Long Island City, NY

Artist: Joseph Solman, American (1909 - ) Title: Reading Lady Year: circa 1965 Medium: Gouache on Racing Form, signed l.l. Size: 14 in. x 10.5 in. (35.56 cm x 26.67 cm) Frame ...

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1960s Color-Field Joseph Solman Art

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Gouache

Joseph Solman art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Joseph Solman art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Joseph Solman in paint, oil paint, gouache 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 Joseph Solman art, so small editions measuring 14 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Michael David, Judith Kruger, and Martin Canin. Joseph Solman art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $75,000, while the average work can sell for $7,500.

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