14

CHICAGO SCHOOL (FOLLOWER OF AARON DOUGLAS) Chicago World Fair.

CHICAGO SCHOOL (FOLLOWER OF AARON DOUGLAS)
Chicago World Fair.

Gouache over pencil on wove paper, circa 1933-40. 465x315 mm; 18 3/8x12 3/8 inches.

This unusual maquette design for an unknown or unpublished Chicago World's Fair poster is a fascinating discovery. The World's Fair of 1933, also known as "A Century of Progress International Exposition," celebrated the centennial of the city's founding. There are a number of strong stylistic characteristics that link this work to Aaron Douglas, but it lacks his sharp draftsmanship and modern sense of design. Aaron Douglas was one of the earliest modern American artists to look to ancient African and Egyptian art forms for inspiration. Only two African-American artists, Archibald Motley and Henry Ossawa Tanner, had works included in an art exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago held at the time of the fair.

Other Chicago African-American graphic artists such as William S. Carter and Charles C. Dawson were aware of Aaron Douglas's work. According to Victor Margolin, the exposition had an impact in the African-American art community. "While hardly a discursive space that welcomed and celebrated African-American contributions to American life, the exhibition did provide a modest opening for a design contribution - the Chicago Urban League's exhibit in the Social Science Pavilion, which was created by Charles Dawson. It also prompted a related project, the African and American Negro Exhibit which opened at the same time as the Century of Progress at the National Pythian Temple on the South Side." Robert Savon Pious's famous 1940 poster for the American Negro Exposition also shows the influence of Aaron Douglas. Regardless of the identity of this artist, this maquette is an extraordinary example of early African-American graphic design. Earle pp. 30, 51, 213-14; Margolin p. 2. Thanks to Victor Margolin and Daniel Schulman for their assistance in this research.

  • Condition: All items are offered for sale subject to Swann Galleries'' standard terms and conditions of sale, which are published in our catalogues.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

February 17, 2009 1:30 PM EST
New York, NY, US

Swann Auction Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 23% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $149 $10
$150 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $5,999 $200
$6,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 + $50,000