A depression era painting from when a dime was really money.
MGLICKER
Posts: 7,995 ✭✭✭
Saintguru ran a thread yesterday discussing the obsolescence of coinage in commerce. That was not true of course eighty years ago.
I recently came across this painting offered on Ebay. It was done by my cousin Ben Glicker, in 1937.
Ben was a colorful, humorous and larger than life man, well at least to this pint sized cousin who first made note of his artistry in 1960 or so.
Had never seen anything that he had done previous to that time until I came across this portrait painted in 1937, when Ben was in his early 20's.
What most caught my attention was the reverse image, showing that Ben had reused a canvas of a still life. Took me a moment to realize that any money was dear in the late 1930's. Enough so that both sides of the canvas were fair game.
Like many artists, my cousin never earned a regular income from his painting, he was a high school art instructor for many decades. A most notable accomplishment though was his assistance to Diego Rivera in creating the well known (an at the time quite controversial) mural of an auto assembly line at the Detroit institute of Arts.
I recently came across this painting offered on Ebay. It was done by my cousin Ben Glicker, in 1937.
Ben was a colorful, humorous and larger than life man, well at least to this pint sized cousin who first made note of his artistry in 1960 or so.
Had never seen anything that he had done previous to that time until I came across this portrait painted in 1937, when Ben was in his early 20's.
What most caught my attention was the reverse image, showing that Ben had reused a canvas of a still life. Took me a moment to realize that any money was dear in the late 1930's. Enough so that both sides of the canvas were fair game.
Like many artists, my cousin never earned a regular income from his painting, he was a high school art instructor for many decades. A most notable accomplishment though was his assistance to Diego Rivera in creating the well known (an at the time quite controversial) mural of an auto assembly line at the Detroit institute of Arts.
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Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
<< <i>Interesting story and very interesting painting, so unique. Did you acquire it? And also do you know who the subject was? >>
Thank you ms70. Don't know who the model is but the eyes resemble those of my grandmother, who otherwise looked nothing like the subject.
I should probably lay out the $320 and buy it but have not.
<< <i>That's a great painting. I just bought it !
Glad to see it will have a good home!
Alex
That's cool. Kind of funny that you post this and someone buys your family members painting before you have a chance to do it!
<< <i>That's cool. Kind of funny that you post this and someone buys your family members painting before you have a chance to do it! >>
I had plenty of chance and decided to pass. Can't own them all!
The huge Diego Rivera mural in the Detroit Institute of Arts (a fresco) is one of the museum's true prizes. Fortunately, it is still very much intact, unlike the Diego Rivera fresco at Rockefeller Center in New York which was destroyed because of its leftist slant.
I'm a big fan of Diego's work
Steve
as i don't want to derail or crash his thread here
enjoy if ya do
alot of artist have special passions in life...some include coins
my dad had a 1926-d buffalo in au as pride n joy of what he had found in circulation...me i had my 1926-s in vf i bought...a father n son thing
so raising some of the wildest 1960's kids...5 of them to be exact...my dad worked 3 jobs...and one would find always doing something artsy
never missed a beat to the point i knew i'd be a great man if i could ever achieve 1/2 of his accomplishments n feats in life
so here's a peer in on some pieces of my daddys works...enjoy if ya do
these oil paintings hang in the front room...when he passed...i was amazed my siblings were focused on other things dad which didn't include his art
in los angeles in the late 60's to 70's he was approached to do some art for an underground comic project
they liked his ability so much..."his was the lead story inside"....note the childish coverwork isn't his work...presented by one everyone loved...his "chicken-bear"
now he did have a breakout shot when the art department of warner brothers studio hired him...this randy newman album cover was a project he worked on
he painted as directed the rocking chairs on it...after working 3 weeks and still no paycheck he told them to stuff this job as he had 5 kids and wife at home...some 5 weeks later they coughed up his checks...below is another one of his lil doodlings
myself
i've done some works but nothing comes close
my artwork was picked for january when i was approached for an " abate of oregon" motorcycle calender in which i drew the 1923 henderson ace by the founders
Teddy: I wish I could get a closer look at those paintings. They look great!
<< <i>Teddy: I wish I could get a closer look at those paintings. They look great! >>
send me a pm with a email for a large clean copy...anyone who'd like i should add...the world hasn't ever seen most of my dads work
<< <i>That's cool. Kind of funny that you post this and someone buys your family members painting before you have a chance to do it! >>
It's a really nicely done portrait, in a style and pallete that works great in many different ways...
I buy art in a very spontaneous fashion, this was no exception and as I told the OP, a nice bottle of wine with dinner helped
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Congrats on picking those up!
It took five years for the seller to ship you the painting???
Nice!
Did the painting just make it to the wall? You noted that you cycle them through.....Cheers, RickO
I think she's moved twice in 5 years. We've named her Babs..
From what's been posted, it's a nice piece. I see why you like it.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
It is stellar. Speaks to me as well
m
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
This thread scared me. I thought the forum caught the Glicker-19 virus.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
😅
You know, I saw a bunch of Glicker reboots and remembered the connection to this painting,
I had forgotten...but I did have some worthwhile PM's from the dude at the time, a bunch of history about the artist...etc.
All lost now..🤬
Funny thing is, most all of the coins I had 5 years ago are long gone, but I still have the painting!
Careful...it can incubate for up to five years.
He he.. another thread resurrection😅
Forgot about this one, and that I had actually posted my pic on this forum, not something I tend to do... 🤔
Oh well, there you have it.
I don't care what they say about you Doc, you're alright by me..🤘
I'll add some relevance with a portion of the Rivera mural.
I happen to like the painting a lot. Interesting that MGlicker didn't want it, if I were in his shoes and the fact that it was done by my family in the 1930's I would have been all over it
The portrait doesn't do much for me but the mural may be the best example of WPA industrial art that I have ever seen. In all fairness, I haven't seen much, but it's still pretty darn impressive.
My Father was an artist and in fact was a professor when he met my Mother in Art 101. Back in the day you did NOT date a student. He resigned to marry Mom. However, he continued painting (water colors) and gave hundreds of them away. I've had a search on ebay for any of his art for decades now, in hopes of acquiring a few. But, never have found one, glad you found yours! You got lucky my friend.
Here is one of my Fathers painted in 1937 (boat yard in Seattle).
bob
nevermind
Category - US Coin