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William Gropper Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

American, 1897-1977

William Gropper was a painter and cartoonist who, with caricature style, focused on social concerns. Gropper was born on December 3, 1897, in New York. William Gropper was a student of Robert Henri and George Bellows at the Ferrer School from 1912–15. During the 1930s, working as a part of the Federal Arts Project, he produced some of the most gripping social protest works of the Great Depression. His subjects included industrial strikes, especially in coal mining and steel-production centers. Gropper did much illustration-cartoon work for the New York Tribune newspaper, Vanity Fair magazine and the politically left-wing publication, New Masses. Some of his other pieces focused on the hypocrisy of government figures, especially members of the United States Senate. Gropper died on January 6, 1977, in Manhasset.

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Artist: William Gropper
Charcoal Drawing "Waiting" Pensive Woman Americana WPA Artist
Charcoal Drawing "Waiting" Pensive Woman Americana WPA Artist

Charcoal Drawing "Waiting" Pensive Woman Americana WPA Artist

By William Gropper

Located in Surfside, FL

14x11.5 image size , 22.5x17.5 backing size The New-York born artist William Gropper was a painter and cartoonist who, with caricature style, focused on social concerns, and was ac...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern William Gropper Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Charcoal

UNTITLED DRAWING

UNTITLED DRAWING

By William Gropper

Located in Portland, ME

Gropper, William (American, 1897-1977). UNTITLED DRAWING. Blue chalk on fibrous handmade paper. Signed lower right, and inscribed at left to Irwin and Sarah Lefcourt. 26 1/2 x 20 1/...

Category

Mid-20th Century William Gropper Portrait Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk

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Previously Available Items
Charcoal Drawing "Waiting" Pensive Woman Americana WPA Artist
Charcoal Drawing "Waiting" Pensive Woman Americana WPA Artist

Charcoal Drawing "Waiting" Pensive Woman Americana WPA Artist

By William Gropper

Located in Surfside, FL

14x11.5 image size , 22.5x17.5 backing size The New-York born artist William Gropper was a painter and cartoonist who, with caricature style, focused on social concerns, and was actively engaged in support of the organized labor movement throughout his career. This original drawing is done in the iconic style of the artist's oeuvre. Surface: Paper (this is being sold unframed) Country: United States Born to Harry and Jenny Gropper in 1897, William was raised in New York City's Lower East Side. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Romania and Ukraine, and young William grew up in relative poverty, watching his family struggle to achieve that sought-after American dream. His father, a bright and college-educated man, was unable to find employment that worthy of his intellect. His mother, meanwhile, worked as a seamstress from home. Coupled with the devastating loss of an aunt to the infamous Triangle Factory fire of 1911, significant childhood factors created the foundation that led to Gropper’s exploration of the American experience. Early on, Gropper displayed an extraordinary, natural skill for art. By 1912, he was already studying under the instruction of George Bellows and Robert Henri at the Ferrer School in Greenwich Village. During his time at school, Gropper was also awarded a prestigious scholarship to study at the National Academy of Design. However, he refused to fit into convention and was swiftly expelled from the Academy. After his expulsion, Gropper returned home to help financially by assisting his mother and taking a shop position. However, he didn't abandon art academia and soon presented a portfolio to the New York School of Fine Art which earned him a scholarship for study. Gropper obtained his first significant job as a cartoonist for the New York Tribune in 1917. While working as a staff cartoonist for the Tribune, he also contributed drawings to publications like Vanity Fair, New Masses, The Nation, and Freiheit. His interest in the welfare of the American worker, class inequality, and social injustice was central in his work. After publishing the graphic novel Alley Oop in 1930, Gropper's illustration career extended well into the decade. However, he was never exempt from controversy, and his 1935 Vanity Fair cartoon; prompted anger from the Japanese government. As an involved labor organizer and Social Realist activist, Gropper continued to bring attention to his radical reputation with visits to the Soviet Union and Poland. However, his concern with European politics and U.S. social causes didn't slow down his artistic career, and by the late 1930s, he had produced significant murals for American cities like Washington D.C. His 1938 mural Construction of a Dam was commissioned for the Department of the Interior and represents the Social-Realism style that depicts experiences of the worker and everyday societal life. Measuring at a staggering 27ft by 87ft, the piece portrays muscular, robust American laborers scaling rocky hillsides, building infrastructure, and operating heavy machinery. The mural feels undeniably American with golden scenery, denim blues, and steely gray colors. Gropper fits perfectly into Social-Realism because the style exhibits an illustrative flair with strong lines and simple, bold hues. The inspiration for Construction of a Dam sprang from his 1937 travels to the poverty-stricken Dust Bowl area. The trip was sponsored by a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and his drawings of the Grand Coulee and Boulder Dams...

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William Gropper portrait drawings and watercolors for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic William Gropper portrait drawings and watercolors available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by William Gropper in charcoal 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 William Gropper portrait drawings and watercolors, so small editions measuring 18 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Alfred Bendiner, Gabriele Galantara, and Alberto Ziveri. William Gropper portrait drawings and watercolors prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $950 and tops out at $950, while the average work can sell for $950.