Here we have a stunning WPA era watercolor painting of horses in a pasture by Chicago artist Max Kahn. I'll cut straight to the chase. This beauty pops off the canvas. The execution by the hand of Kahn is a sight to behold. r. The pasture scene absolutely pops with movement and the perfect WPA edge. I salute you, Mr. Kahn.
Here's a biography of the artist, courtesy of maxkahn.com:
Max Kahn's place in American art today and his approach to his work have best been defined by the late Carl 0. Schniewind, Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Art Institute of Chicago, who wrote; "Max Kahn has not only long been one of the most respected among Chicago artists, but his name is also well known throughout the country."
"He is a painter of real stature, one of America's leading print-makers, and an all too infrequent sculptor. Whatever medium he tackles he shows an unusually sound knowledge of the material with which he is working. His forms tend to largeness and simplicity, there is a conspicuous absence of anecdotal comment in his compositions, which emphasize the essential at all times. He is always an impeccable craftsman, whose craftsmanship, however, never out-weighs his artistic achievement. His talent and methods are, indeed, rare in our time"
Kahn was born in Russia in 1902. He was brought to Peoria, Illinois, in 1907. He received a B.S. degree from Bradley College. In Paris, in 1927-28, Kahn studied sculpture with Bourdelle and Despiau, and drawing with Othon Friesz. He studied lithography with Francis Chapin at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he himself was a lithography instructor beginning in 1944.
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The Max Kahn artwork is signed in the bottom right and dated 1940. Apparently there is a sister painting within the frame. I have not confirmed the existence of he second painting. However, the previous owner was a serious collector of art. On the reverse, the previous owner wrote the following:
There are two Max Kahn paintings in the frame. Both 1940. The one you can see, signed verso.
1. Max Kahn #4623 "Horses in Pasture"
2. Max Kahn #5901 "Horses"
These are sister paintings, also signed in front like #1.
The framed watercolor on canvas board measures 18 1/2" tall by 25 1/2" wide. Please see pics as they are part of the description.
I ship FedEx to street addresses in the continental USA only (no PO boxes). Free shipping on the WPA era artwork.
Virtuoso execution. You know it when you see it. It hits you like a surprise left hook.
