Illustrator Ralph Steadman's typed letter to composer and photographer George Newson (1932-2024) is dated February 22, 1991. In just a couple of lines, he seemingly confirms a forthcoming art show and reassures Newson that "Of course we can find work to exhibit." It is rare for any commercial artist, even one of Steadman's stature, not to have a reasonable quantity of unsold work on hand.
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| Ralph Steadman AbeBooks listing accessed July 5, 2024 |
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In 1939, George Grosz held his first New York show of paintings at the Walker Galleries, located just five blocks to the east of the Art Students League where he taught. He personalized an invitation to "see my new things" at the exhibition for a Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Cramer, his handwritten note curving around the edges of the printed notice so that his signature is upside-down. The envelope is postmarked just four days prior to the opening. Upstate, the mailing had to be forwarded to them by the Postal Service, but if they made haste the Cramers might still have had a chance to catch this gallery showing.
Note: On my Instagram feed, user grosz_club noted that the sticker used as a seal on the back of the envelope is very similar to one printed in red that Grosz used in 1917-1918.
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