Back in the 1930s, as part of the Federal Art Project, the government paid artists to make thousands of paintings, from famous murals to little landscapes. It wasn't possible to keep track of it all, and some ended up in private hands. Once in a while, a canvas turns up, and when it does, the Feds sometimes take an interest. Produced by Ann Heppermann and Kara Oehler.
Floating in the Clearest Night
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Comments [6]
nice posting....i like it...it is really helpfull to all...I'm still looking for Andrew Winter's name to turn up on a "list" as a WPA artist. Can someone help me with this?
PS: I'm still looking for Andrew Winter's name to turn up on a "list" as a WPA artist. Can someone help me with this?
I guess the government just never stops being a police power. This painting hung on the great grandfather's wall for what, 70 years? C'mon. Why didn't the gov't just buy it at auction....? The more you think you've heard it all, the more you find out that isn't true. When will they start stamping us with UPC symbols to keep track of us? Seems like it's coming.....
England has a process for compensating the owner of an historic art find, the face value of the artwork. That seems like the fair way to go for all concerned parties.
The WPA artwork was sold out the backdoor by the pound. Who is to say this painting wasnt one of those?
Beautiful painting and a very intetesting story. Some museum should mount a show using a wide range of WPA artists and tell their stories in a multimedia fashion - newsreel footage, interviews, print coverage from the period.
Wow, people ripping off the government, blatantly indicating they would have done it again. Don't buy a painting from that guy, it might not be his to sell.
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