c. 1940 Wilma Prezzi Female WPA Regionalist Drawing City Diner Nighthawks Hopper

Description: This listing is for the Original c. 1940 Wilma Prezzi WPA Regionalist Drawing of a City Diner pictured above. About this work: An exceptional circa 1940 graphite drawing of a diner scene with a strong likeness to the world renowned Edward Hopper painting Nighthawks. This wonderful drawing of a city diner scene was skillfully created by a young American female artist, Wilma Prezzi. Prezzi was active in New York City, which is likely the basis for this diner scene. Given the very similar subject matter, location, time period, and style, this work is as if you are viewing Nighthawks from a new, hidden perspective down the counter. The work is graphite on paper and is signed “Prezzi” in the lower left. It is framed behind glass. About the artist: Wilma Maria Prezzi (1915-2002) was an American female artist, particularly active in New York City during the first half of the 20th century. Despite her exceptional talent, relatively little is written about her life, with the exception of her work that she created in association with legendary Asian antiques dealer C. T. Loo. Though C. T. Loo was known primarily as a dealer of ancient Chinese art, in the 1940s he promoted contemporary “Chinese art” works by Prezzi. In the 1945 exhibition at the De Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco, some of the objects Wilma Prezzi painted came from Loo’s collection. In the 1947 exhibition of Prezzi’s oil paintings of ancient Chinese art in New York, Loo served as her painting model supplier and a member of the art and exhibits committee. Wilma Prezzi’s works and exhibitions under Loo’s patronage constituted a multi-layered spectacle. The New York Times report on the 1947 exhibition of Wilma Prezzi’s works was titled, “Canvases Depict Chinese Antiques: Woman to Present Paintings of Ancient Bronzes and Porcelain”, alluding that Chinese antiquities, paintings, and the woman were all players in this spectacle. The woman artist, her painting, and the objects represented in the painting were mutually enhancing in terms of value. The exhibition was remarkable not only for the wonderful paintings and the wonderful Chinese antiquities depicted, but also for the woman who created these works. Wilma Prezzi’s background made her a fitting artist to portray Chinese art objects. The New York Times report depicted her as a young, talented, and technically sophisticated artist with a background as a dress designer (Knox 1947). The report stressed her technical virtuosity: “To portray the luminous, iridescent quality of long-buried porcelain and the earth tones of other oxidized burial pieces, Miss Prezzi employs a technique that requires a great deal of underpainting, comparable to the technique used by the old masters.” (Knox 1947) On the one hand, her painting skills, combined with her experience in dress-making a field associated with feminine beauty and glamour, made her a perfect artist to express the beauty of the “ancient, fragile, priceless” objects that C. T. Loo and other interested owners lent to her (Knox 1947). Pearl Buck observed in Prezzi’s painting catalogue, “Her delicate yet strong technique has found its best expression in the still life of great Chinese art objects....She paints beautifully, too, so beautifully that her technique is worthy of her subject.” (Buck 1945, Introduction) Source: Yiyou Wang Size: 24 inches tall by 18 inches wide (drawing by sight) 31.25 inches tall by 25.25 inches wide (frame) Condition: Good overall condition with typical age toning. Some light rippling to surface. Typical wear to the frame. It is ready to be displayed and enjoyed! This work will be carefully packed and shipped with insurance and signature confirmation. Free local pickup is also available. I frequently receive messages from people after I sell an item, asking if it is definitely gone. If something catches your eye, don't let someone else buy it while you hesitate! Feel free to ask any questions.

Price: 895 USD

Location: New Hope, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2023-10-08T11:46:35.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD