Arthur Getz and the WPA

Three of New Yorker cover artist Arthur Getz's early post office murals for the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration are documented in an archive sold this month at Swann Auction Galleries. In addition to copies of the contracts, there are photographs of the highly finished preliminary sketches created for the project. Unfortunately, only one of these photos is reproduced in the online sale catalogue. I have taken the liberty of pairing it with the completed mural.

Cotton Field (1942)
Luverne, Alabama
Artuhr Getz

https://www.reddit.com/r/Socialistart/comments/kd1w50/cotton_field_arthur_getz_1942_luverne_alabama/

Arthur Getz
Swann Galleries February 4, 2021

https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/ARTHUR-GETZ-(1913-1998)-Archive-of-contracts-and-photographs?saleno=2557&lotNo=39&refNo=777638

Here are the other two completed post office murals:

Early Commerce in the Erie Canal Region (1940)
Lancaster, New York
Arthur Getz

https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/post-office-mural-bronson-mi/

Harvest (1943)
Bronson, Missouri
Arthur Getz

https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/post-office-mural-bronson-mi/

Visiting all three would make for quite a road trip!

Another lot in the auction has a so-called WPA practice piece dating from 1938. The subject matter seems a bit too calamitous for a post office. This piece might be influenced by the work of Thomas Hart Benton.

Arthur Getz
Swann Galleries February 4, 2021

https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/ARTHUR-GETZ-(1913-1998)-Untitled-(WPA-Practice-Piece)?saleno=2557&lotNo=181&refNo=778367

Arthur Getz
Prices with Buyer's Premium

Note:  Got original work by Arthur Getz? Sure, I'd love to post it.

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