Friday, July 9, 2021

George Grosz: Signed with Pen and Brush

A presentation signature card by George Grosz measures 6 1/2 x 3 3/4 inches floating on its matte. The artist's name is somewhat ornately drawn rather than signed as an autograph, accompanied by a drawing of a crossed pen and brush, Grosz's weapons of choice, tied together with ribbon. Dated February 1954, the piece was created in Huntington, Long Island, where Grosz lived since 1947, and which he quirkily abbreviated "Htg. Lng. Isl."

Close-ups of the card proved tricky to photograph under glass:



Grosz produced such souvenir pieces on occasion. A similar presentation signature rendered somewhat more elaborately with colored inks and, apparently, watercolor appears on the front free endpaper of his 1948 monograph. It is dedicated "To Fridolf Johnson/when we first met/in Huntington/ Long Island/with affection/George Grosz." Johnson was an author and the editor of American Artists magazine.

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