Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Overdrive

This painting is the wheel-deal indeed. Painted in 1926 by artist Saul Berman, it features a number of period automobiles lining a city street. You can even make out the spare tire on the rear of the car on the right. This "time capsule" cityscape is another fantastic highlight from the Pantages Portfolio.

Saul Berman (1899-1975) was born in Russia but moved to New York City with his parents as a child. He painted in the social realist style, with his works often including precise detailing. He studied art in New York at the Educational Alliance and the National Academy. In 1920, he received Honorable Mention at the Chicago Art Institute. Berman received commissions from the WPA (Works Progress Administration) in the 1930's for paintings as well as murals. Berman's works were featured in numerous exhibitions and events, including The Whitney Museum Annuals, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Annuals, American Art Today, as well as the 1939 New York World's Fair.