Walter Reinsel PAFA ARTIST Lithograph RARE Ed. of 25 PHILADELPHIA PA Surrealist

Description: Item: Lithograph on paper by Walter Reinsel (Am., 1905-1979), “Out of The City” from the edition of 25 (proof #3 out of 25). Titled, numbered, inscribed, and signed by Reinsel in pencil lower margin. Reinsel was in the same “school” as Benton Spruance as they were the same age, both studied at the PAFA and in France at the same time, and both were lithographers. The big difference between the two artists is that Spruance lithos aren’t rare and Reinsel lithos are rare. Unframed print ships rolled in a tube. PLEASE SEE MY OTHER LISTINGS FOR A NICE SELECTION OF ART, ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES !! Rarity: The last major Benton Spruance oil that sold at auction was “Lot’s Wife” and it fetched 2,750 USD. Why is it that his original oils can sell for that small amount yet his lithographs can sell for 60,000 USD? I don’t know. The reason why I mention Spruance is because he’s the only other Philadelphia printmaker that I can think of to compare with Walter Reinsel, the creator of the lithograph offered here. Normally, I would only consider comps in terms of auction records by the same artist, but there are no other lithographs by Reinsel that I can find. His Modernist paintings of Maine have fetched 1500-1700 USD at auction several times. Currently, I have 3 lithographs by Reinsel (see my other listings) and all were done in editions of 25, which is very low, and one factor as to why certain Spruance lithos are far more valuable than others of larger editions. One fair example is Spruance’s “Road From The Shore”, a black and white lithograph numbered 9/25 which fetched 11,880 USD at auction. If Walter Reinsel oils are worth half of what Spruance oils are worth, then it would make sense that Reinsel’s lithos are worth half of what Spruance’s lithos are worth (depending on the desirability of the image, of course). Style: Walter Reinsel’s work is essentially Modernism. His teachers included Arthur B. Carles and Andre Lhote. Depending on the piece, I find Reinsel images to be informed by Expressionism (think Georges Rouault), Cubism per Lhote influence, and Modernism per training under Carles. When Reinsel did his art training in the 1920’s, it had only been less than a decade since the 1913 Armory Show. Graphic Arts: Reinsel had two artistic careers consecutively. He was Art Director for the famous ad agency N.W. Ayer & Son. Reinsel was an expert in the graphic arts field, specializing in layout design and typography. Most Art Directors were like Reinsel, having trained at the PAFA or similar art schools, and most maintained second careers as exhibiting artists. At N.W. Ayer & Son, you had Walter Reinsel, Charles Coiner, Paul Darrow and Leon Karp. If you think of design at the time, this is where the lines blur between commercial art and fine art. People in the advertising business such as Reinsel would work with other artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe for Dole Pineapple, Willem DeKooning for the United Nations, etc. They also showed their work in the annual exhibitions of the Art Directors Club. Background: When Reinsel passed away, he left one work of art, some of his correspondence and all of his art supplies to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). Reinsel and Spruance were around the same age, both went to the PAFA, and both studied in France at the same time ca. 1928. I’m sure they knew each other quite well. Other than that and artist friends at N.W. Ayer, the correspondence of Walter Reinsel includes letters from Morris Blackburn, Walter Bohanan, Abraham Rattner, Franklin Watkins, Ben Eisenstat, etc. According to the PAFA, “He exhibited paintings and watercolors throughout his career. He showed at PAFA often between 1939 and 1967, with a one man show in 1948. He exhibited extensively elsewhere and won many prizes. The permanent collection of PAFA includes a watercolor by Reinsel, a bequest of the artist.” But, please see Askart or the Who Was Who In American Art for more detailed biographical and exhibition info on Walter Reinsel.

Price: 395 USD

Location: Pitman, New Jersey

End Time: 2024-04-30T20:10:28.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD