🔥 Vintage Modern Abstract Constructivist Lithograph, Signed

Description: This is a wonderful and expressive Vintage Modern Abstract Constructivist Lithograph on Paper, by influential New York Modernist painter, John Von Wicht (1888 - 1970.) This artwork depicts an ethereal Constructivist scene, reminiscent of the Russian Avant Garde artists of the early 20th century. Hand numbered and titled in graphite: "5/15 Dawn" in the lower left corner. Additionally, this artwork is pencil signed by the artist and dated "53" in the lower right corner. Approximately 21 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches (including frame.) Actual visible artwork is approximately 11 x 17 1/4 inches. Included with this artwork, there is an old provenance document affixed to the verso from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) dated to 1953, which cites the artwork's provenance as being from the esteemed Esther Robles Gallery, formerly in Los Angeles, California. Good condition for age, with some mild scuffing and edge wear to the original period vintage wormwood frame. Acquired from an old collection in Pasadena, California. A numbered edition of this lithograph is also in the permanent collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. If you like what you see, I encourage you to make an Offer. Please check out my other listings for more wonderful and unique artworks! About the Artist: John Von Wicht Born: 1888 - Holstein, GermanyDied: 1970 - Brooklyn, New YorkKnown for: Non objective, mural, graphics, mosaicsName variants: John Von Vicht, John Von Wicht A painter of abstraction expression, muralist, mosaic and stained glass artist and printmaker, John Von Wicht was born in Germany and in 1923, immigrated to New York City where he was based during most of his career.In Darmstadt, he attended the Bauhaus School and in Berlin, the Academy of Fine Arts. He also studied in a private school of the Grand Duke of Hesse in 1908. During World War I, serving in the German army, he was wounded, which left him partially paralyzed.In New York City in the 1930s, John Von Wicht was a WPA (Federal Arts Project) artist for radion station WNYC and worked with Stuart Davis, Byron Browne and Louis Schanker. His murals, mosaics and stained glass are in many cities including the Federal Court House in Knoxville, Tennessee and the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in Trenton, New Jersey.In 1954, Von Wicht was honored with a residency at the MacDowell Colony. In 1951 and 1952, he taught at the Art Students League in New York and in 1953, the John Herron Art Institute.Source:Peter Falk, "Who Was Who in American Art"Marika Herskovic, Editor, "American Abstract Expressionism of the 1950s" Biography from ACME Fine ArtJohn Von Wicht1888-1970In Ad Reinhardt's landmark cartoon from 1946, "How to Look at Modern Art in America", John Von Wicht shares a branch with Hans Hofmann, Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell, William Baziotes, and Arthur Dove. Such is the company he kept.Von Wicht was a Modernist before it became fashionable. He was painting in an abstract geometric style upon emmigrating from Germany in the 1920's. During the 1930's and early 1940's Von Wicht's work reflects a keen interest in cubism; however, it was cubism interpreted in a fresh expressionistic manner all his own. In his later work Von Wicht adopted an abstract expressionist mode of painting. Today Von Wicht is regarded as master of all of the painting idioms he pursued, and his work from all periods is highly regarded.Education:Darmstadt-Bauhaus SchoolBerlin Academy of Fine ArtSelected Exhibitions:Brooklyn Museum, 1924-25, 1939, 1943, 1950 (prize), 1951,1955 (prize), 1958 (prize), 1960, 1964Whitney Museum of American Art, 1940-67Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, 1947-68Art Institute of Chicago, 1947Worlds Fair, New York, 1939Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1947-61Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1941Salons of America, 1927, 1931, 1934Audubon Artists, 1952-55, 1958 (medal)Boston Art Festival, 1958 (prize)Art USA, 1959Ford Foundation, 1960 (purchase prize)Santa Barbara Museum, 1959 (retrospective)Artists Gallery, NYBertha Schaefer GalleryPassedoit GalleryMartin Diamond Fine ArtSelected Collections:National Museum, StockholmMusee National d'Art Moderne, ParisNational Gallery, BerlinMuseo d'Art Contemporains, MadridMetropolitan Museum of ArtWhitney Museum of American ArtMuseum of Modern ArtCincinnati Art MuseumCollections cont'd.Brooklyn MuseumLibrary of CongressMuseum of Fine Art, BostonChrysler MuseumUniversity of IllinoisYale UniversityJewish MuseumHerron Art InstituteKansas State UniversityPittsburgh Museum of ArtBradley University Biography from Caldwell Gallery HudsonJohn Von Wicht was born in Holstein, Germany in 1888. He studied at the Private Art School of the Grand Duke of Hesse in Darmstadt, Germany, and at the Royal School for Fine and Applied Arts in Berlin. At the age of 17, he served as an apprentice in a painting and decorating shop, and spent his spare time drawing. He began painting in oil about 1908 and sold his first canvas soon thereafter.During World War I, Von Wicht was wounded and partially paralyzed. While recovering, he did book designs and illustration work, and discovered the artists Mondrian and Malevich. In 1923, Von Wicht emigrated to the United States, settling in New York where he worked for a lithography company and then joined a firm making stained glass and mosaics.It was during this time that the artist began executing abstractions in a linear, geometric style. During the 1930's, Von Wicht joined the AAA (American Abstract Artist group), and during the 40's his work ranged from abstract to semi-abstract, cubist inspired work.During World War II, he served as captain of a supply barge ferrying food to army transport ships in New York harbor, and harbor motifs began appearing in his abstractions. In the mid-1950's, Von Wicht developed his mature abstract style, which can be best described as lyrical expressionism. It is with these unique pieces that Von Wicht's life-long struggle to achieve a personal artistic breakthrough is finally achieved.In 1936, Von Wicht had his first solo show of mural designs at the Architect's Building. In 1939, there was an exhibition of his paintings at the Theodor A. Kohn Gallery, and the following year he exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art. During his career, Von Wicht had more than 30 one-man shows, exhibited at countless museum group shows, and won more than 25 art awards. He is remembered by those who knew him as an "artist's artist".Von Wicht died in 1970.

Price: 975 USD

Location: Orange, California

End Time: 2024-10-24T22:34:13.000Z

Shipping Cost: 25 USD